Hispanic Busines- Large cities have film commissions, but New York City has created a commission specifically to attract Hispanic-oriented productions, events, and companies. Launched in 2003 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and entertainer Jennifer Lopez, the Latin Media & Entertainment Commission (LMEC) promotes media produced for and by the city's 2.8 million Hispanics.

"We have a large Hispanic community that is the most diverse in the world. We are trying to attract media companies that want to serve Latinos from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America," says Elilzabeth Caldas, the commission's executive director

One strategy to attract companies is to create a Latin "entertainment district," possibly in uptown Manhattan. Until then, investors, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, and consumers can tap into New York Hispanic culture by visiting the LMEC Web site (www.nyc.gov/html/lmec), which provides an events calendar, a directory of cultural organizations and nonprofits, a night-life guide, and a media company directory.