ACC: Announcing the Most Anticipated Celebration of the Year

https://storage.snappages.site/F7HNZQ/assets/images/2151590_1000x773_500.png

E-Newsletter | August 16, 2021

Celebrating 31 years and highlighting the some of the top influential Asian Own businesses and entrepreneurs in Houston.

Come join us in celebrating 31 years serving the Greater Houston Area. Each year, The Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston recognizes companies and individuals who have impacted our community at large. The event unites the Asian business community to celebrate excellence in leadership, business, and community impact within the greater Houston area.

4:30 PM Registration Begins
5:00 PM Cocktail Hour / VIP Reception
6:00 PM Award Program Begins

Announcing the highest celebrated speakers and honoring those who have contributed towards our Asian Business Community. More speakers and award honorees will be announced.

The Honorable Elaine L. Chao

Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Secretary of Labor

By attending you will be immersed in the joining the various business leaders in our city. Connect with those who stand united in elevating our economy and supporting Asian-owned Businesses.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

GET TICKETS TO THE AWARDS

NEW SPEAKER ADDED:
Mayor Sylvester Turner

2021 Asian Chamber Trade Forum & Business Expo and Rising 10 Awards

Date: Friday, September 10, 2021

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CT

Venue: Houston Marriott Westchase (2900 Briarpark Dr, Houston TX 77042)

Current ACC Members – Discount code has been sent to your email box.

Confirmed Speaker List

Local Speakers: (As of August 16)

Mayor Sylvester Turner, Executive Officer of the City of Houston
Ric Campo, Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority and Chairman/CEO of Camden Property Trust
Christopher Olson, Director of Trade & International Affairs with City of Houston
Jorge Franz, Senior Vice President, Tourism and Industry Relations with Visit Houston

Federal Speakers:

Eric A. Miller, Regional Director of the Export-Import Bank of the United States
Peter Tataris, Senior International Trade Specialist of the U.S. Commercial Service

Countries and Trade Regions: (Listed In Alphabetical Order)

India – The Honorable Aseem R. Mahajan
Indonesia – The Honorable Andre Omer Siregar
Japan – The Honorable Hideo Fukushima
Korea – The Honorable Myung Soo Ahn
Mexico – The Honorable Alicia Kerber-Palma
Taiwan – The Honorable Robert Fu-Wen Lo
Vietnam – The Honorable Nguyen Trac Ba

We invite you to attend our 2021 Asian Chamber Trade Forum and Business Expo including the Rising 10 Awards (All part of the Business Conference and Expo) happening Friday, September 10th. This is a continuation of our annual business conference where we will focus on opportunities of trade both locally and globally. This year’s theme, “Rebound, Recover, Reengage”, will provide essential business tools and cover topics to help reengage customers as the country and our international border opens up for business.

You will have an opportunity to listen to 7 countries talk about trade opportunities as well as visit the business expo where over 50 exhibitors will showcase their offerings. During our luncheon, listen to opportunities from the City of Houston in driving trade opportunities along with bringing more visitors into Houston. We will also host an in-person awards ceremony highlighting 10 Asian owned businesses, who have excelled over the past 3 years. With support and partners from the US Department of Commerce, City of Houston, Greater Houston Partnership, US Chamber, National ACE and SBA, we have put together exciting sessions of learning and connect with essential business opportunities.

Each attendee will have an opportunity to in person visit over 50 exhibitors in showcasing their products and services and network with participants throughout the forum and expo.

We invite you to register today in discovering new ways of growing your business and driving new opportunities to meet other business owners and potential customers. With celebrating 30 years serving the community, The Asian Chamber stands behind your success of helping drive new business!

AGENDA

Registration – 8:30am
International Trade Forum – 9:00am-11:30am
Business Expo – 9:00am-11:30am
Houston Economy and Trade Luncheon – 11:30am
RISING 10 Awards – 12:50pm
Business Expo Reopens – 1:30pm-3:00pm
Event Closes – 3:00pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Grubhub in partnership with National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) announce a grant opportunity for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) owned restaurants nationally to receive much needed funding.

There will be 13 winners within our region in Northeast Texas. The top 12 selected restaurants will receive $10,000 and a runner up winner will receive $8,000. If selected as a grant recipient, your simple obligation would be to share a testimony as to how the funding helped your business.

Eligibility Requirements

The business must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian (AAPI) majority-owned (at least 51%)
The business is based in the United States
The business must have been operational in 2019
The business must be currently in operation
The business’s primary licensed activity is “the preparation and serving of food”
The business operates in a maximum of three locations (ineligible if operating in four or more locations)

We encourage our members to apply for the grant as soon as possible as only 100 restaurant applications will be accepted in our region. The system will close at 11:59 p.m. on August 31, 2021 or when it has accepted 100 applications, whichever comes first.

For more information and how to apply please visit

https://asianchamber-hou.org/restaurantfund

The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is supported with a $2 million donation from Grubhub’s “Donate the Change” program. Throughout the month of May, Grubhub customers opted-in to round up their bill at checkout and donated the difference to support AAPI-owned restaurants, with Grubhub also matching donations from Grubhub+ members. Eligible restaurants across the country will be able to apply for a $10,000 or $8,000 grant with nearly 200 restaurants being awarded in October.

AAPI-owned restaurants were among the hardest hit during the pandemic’s early days. By April 2020, roughly half of the Chinese restaurants in the U.S. had closed because of the pandemic, coupled with consumer prejudice and misperceptions.

The Asian Chamber of Commerce wants to help your business WIN BIDS by enrolling in our upcoming Supplier Diversity Academy. Join the program and learn how buyers look for diverse suppliers who represent women-owned and/or minority-owned businesses. Be coached by decision makers from mayor corporations and the public sector in researching bids, learning the application process, and how to knock out a winning presentation. Use this opportunity to network and be seen by potential buyers through the Academy!

Speakers from:

Shell, H-E-B, Chase, Port Houston, Metro, United Airlines and Lone Star College and more

Topics covered:

Certification
Where to Find bids/opportunities
How to Apply
How to Have a Winning Presentation
How to Negotiate

All Virtual Sessions will take place 11:00am – 1:00pm

Assignments will be self-paced through our online learning platform

FEES – $200 – Will be collected after approval into the Academy

* FREE for ACC Bronze members and higher

Business Resources and Partner Events

SBA National Small Business Week Virtual Summit

Join the SBA September 13 – September 15, 2021, for the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit to learn new business strategies, meet other business owners, and chat with industry experts. This free online event will include educational webinars, updates on resources for small businesses and a networking chat room for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program

On August 11, 2021, the SBA announced updates to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, including:

New applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, August 20, 2021.
The SBA will open the program for supplemental SVOGs for 50% of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million (initial and supplemental combined) later this month. Details will be announced at a later date.
The SBA is currently accepting, by invitation, applications for reconsideration of award amounts and appeals. This rare opportunity gives applicants a chance to prove their eligibility and reverse a prior decision.

LEARN MORE

Houston Business Expo

September 28th

“Doing Business in Houston”

City of Houston

Presenting Speaker:

OFFICE OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Porscha Jackson, PhD

Learn about getting Certified and Registered with The City of Houston. About the RFP & Open Bid Process and Resources for:

· Small Business Owners

· Women Business Owners

· Minority Business Owners

Program Schedule:

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Welcoming Reception

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Guest Speakers “Doing Business in Houston”

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Breakaway Session

5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Business Networking Expo & Happy Hour

Where:

Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center

6633 Travis Street

Houston, TX 77030

TEXT “Networking” to 88202 & RSVP

Funding Opportunity: STEM Talent Challenge

APPLY NOW! STEM Talent Challenge Aims to Fuel Nation’s Growing Innovation Economies Today, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) launched the STEM Talent Challenge to support programs to train science, technology, engineering, and…