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E-Newsletter | April 27, 2022
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Chamber Events and Announcements
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WE NEED YOUR HELP
By taking a 10-minute survey, you can help make clear how the pandemic has impacted you and small businesses like yours. Let your voice be heard by taking the survey here.
The survey’s findings will help elected officials to develop economic recovery policies and programs to better serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. . The Asian Chamber of Commerce will work with National ACE (our national partner) to share the results with legislators and policymakers.
Your input is critical. The survey will take you about 10 minutes and your responses will be anonymous and confidential.
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DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY MAY 1
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Come Join Us For Our 2022 Restaurant Series! We are providing FREE resources to help restaurant owners survive and thrive as restrictions have been lifted. Listen to industry experts and learn best practices in making your business profitable.
REGISTER FOR THESE FREE EVENTS:
Select which in-person and webinar events you would like to attend below
Session 1 (In-Person) – Workshop for Restaurant Owners: Keeping Your Restaurants in Compliance
Session 2 (Virtual via Zoom) – Cost Savings through Energy Efficiency
- Hear about ways to have your equipment work for you in saving on your utilities cost. Learn about the credits you can get back as well as hear how this benefits restaurant owners.
- Watch the Recording
Session 3 (Virtual via Zoom) – Maximizing Ecommerce Technology and Gain New Profits
- May 3 (Tues) – 2pm – 3pm CT
- Looking at how technology helps streamline processes and attract more customers. Create automation and understand the importance of Ecommerce as well as marketing through social media integration to increase revenue and sales.
Session 4 (In-Person) – Best Practices on Concerning Issues Restaurant Owners Are Facing
- May 9 (Mon) – 2pm – 4pm | Location TBA
- Hear panelists provide answers to questions related to supply chain issues and labor shortages as well as rising cost of goods. Each panelist will offer guidance on how to overcome the various challenges owners faces with operation and growing his/her business.
NOTE: YOU MUST BE A RESTAURANT OWNER OR IN THE FOOD SERVICES INDUSTRY TO ATTEND
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BUSINESS RESOURCES
AND PARTNER EVENTS
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The first in-person SBA Awards in 2 years is happening soon – May 4 at the Westin Galleria, 10:30am – 1:30pm! We are eager to see you (in person!) at this celebration of Entrepreneurship as we honor the winners of our highly competitive, rigorously judged awards.
This event is often a who’s-who of Houston area small business stakeholders, including Mayors, Congressional offices, prominent Chambers and economic development leaders, top business funding organizations, incubators/accelerators, important small businesses, and more.
The event is filling fast! If you haven’t registered yet, please do as soon as possible. Our wonderful partner SCORE is hosting the event!
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Attend the FBISD Small Business Enterprise Program (SBEP) vendor workshop on Wednesday, April 27, from 2 – 4 p.m. This workshop will be held in person and virtually on Zoom. The workshop will be held at the FBISD Annex Building (3119 Sweetwater, Sugar Land, 77479). This event is open to small businesses and vendors interested in doing business with the District.
Topics to be addressed at the April 27, 2022 workshop will focus on “Building Relationships”
- The General Contractor/Subcontractor – Building Relationships – Associated Builders and Contractors of Houston, Bill M. Brown- Civil Engineer, E.I.T., Senior Project Manager
- The Chamber Insight: Building Relationships – Asian Chamber of Commerce, Paul Gor- Senior Director of Community Development
- FBISD Purchasing – (TBD) –
- FBISD Facilities – Terrance Thomas, Director-Facilities
- FBISD Transition Services – Patrick Monaghan, Assistant Director; Debra Wingard, Teacher
- US SBA Update – Gaye Spears-Madison, Business Opportunity Specialist
- FBISD Small Business Enterprise Program – Jeanette Boleware, FBISD Small Business Coordinator
- Capability Statement – Julie Irvin Hartman and Susan Repka, B2G Victory-Founder and Co-Founder
Certifications/Opportunities:
- HCC College Small Business Development Program – Veronica Douglas, Manager
- City of Houston Housing & Development Program – Karen Franklin, Community Involvement Coordinator
- SBE Certification Process – Metro Transit Authority, Port Authority, City of Houston, US SBA
- Financial Aspects – Texas Capital Bank, Worley Barker
- Networking – Building Relationships
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Registration for the 2022 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, “Building a Better America Through Entrepreneurship,” is now open. This year’s National Small Business Week Virtual Summit will feature access to federal resources, educational workshops, and networking to help small businesses pivot, grow, and seize new opportunities. The event is free, but registration is required.
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PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
WITH DOCUMENT SHREDDING AT FROST
Frost invites Houston-area residents to come to Frost financial centers to have sensitive documents shredded, with service provided by Shred-It. Frost will also have sweet treats available to participants.
Guests are welcome to bring up to 10 containers with any paper products to be shredded, and there is no need to remove paper clips or staples. Paper documents can remain in envelopes. However, the shred event is not able to accommodate things like cardboard boxes, X-rays, CDs or DVDs, hard drives or pill bottles.
The event is a tradition at Frost, which shares its customers’ concern for privacy and secure information.
WHEN: Friday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Blackhorse Financial Center
These events are free and open to the public.
Frost is the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), a financial holding company with $50.9 billion in assets at Dec. 31, 2021. One of the 50 largest U.S. banks by asset size, Frost provides a full range of banking, investments and insurance services to businesses and individuals in the Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Permian Basin, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio regions. Founded in 1868, Frost has helped Texans with their financial needs during three centuries. For more information, visit www.frostbank.com.
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Subs and Sandwiches with HCC Procurement Small Business Development
When: May 18 at 11:30 am
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Join us for the 25th Annual HUB & Small Business Vendor Trade Show
Come showcase your business and meet with key administrators, purchasers, and HUB Coordinators from Sam Houston State University (SHSU), Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), The City of Huntsville, SHSU Small Business Development Center, Walker County, Region 6, and Huntsville Independent School District (HISD) and learn about the HUB Program/Resources, HUB Certification and the procurement processes for each sponsoring organization
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Emerging Leaders is back and has been rebranded as T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined!
Applications are open thru May and small businesses can learn more and apply at www.sba.gov/thrive. The next cohort runs July-December 2022.
Eligibility criteria: Have annual revenues of at least $250,000, Have been in business for at least three years, & Have at least one employee, other than self
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Small Business Cybersecurity Expo
This Expo is meant to educate and support small businesses and answer their questions about cybersecurity. They will leave with takeaways to immediately implement in their business. They will have the opportunity to hear from a Cybersecurity Advisor from the CISA with the Department of Homeland Security regarding do’s & don’ts and Ransomware and access to cybersecurity service companies in your area.
If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Stacy S Jacobs at [email protected]
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Applications for shelf-ready products are now open through April 8 for Walmart’s largest annual Open Call event in its nine-year history. The event will be extended to two days, June 28-29, with participants choosing virtual or in-person pitch meetings with a Walmart or Sam’s Club buyer. More than 2,000 companies have already registered more than 6,000 items they hope to present to buyers through an exclusive early access period offered to Marketplace sellers. Additionally, we are offering mentoring sessions to all applicants registering for the event, providing suppliers with the tools needed to successfully sell on Walmart’s virtual and physical shelves.
Open Call, Walmart’s largest sourcing event, helps support our 10-year commitment to American jobs through its $350 billion investment in items made, grown, or assembled in the U.S and aims to bring American-made products and businesses to communities across the country.
Businesses wishing to apply for this year’s Open Call event can apply here. Anyone wishing to learn more about becoming a Walmart Marketplace seller can click here. Please help us spread the word!
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Husch Blackwell is offering eligible minority businesses free legal services to see them grow and develop. If you are a small, minority-owned business or minority entrepreneur seeking legal assistance related to your business, apply at: huschblackwell.com/communities-for-change-intake-application. The ideal applicant is a viable company, meeting its financial obligations to expand and employ, but is unable to afford legal services.
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Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator is dedicated to helping build sustainable equity and growth for Black entrepreneurs by enabling their success as sellers. Grow your business with access to financial support, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support.
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A new program created by a diverse group of community lenders aimed at helping small businesses and nonprofits navigate and rebuild from the Covid-19 health and economic crisis. Small business owners and nonprofits, with fewer than 50 employees, across the South, can apply for very low-interest loans of up to $100,000 and free business support.
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The MBDA seeks to resolve the challenges faced by minority business enterprises (MBEs) in the export industry. Through outreach to minorities in the masses, MBDA will identify those who are not exporting and would like to explore the opportunity to export. We provide technical assistance and business development services for MBEs to have greater access to new and global markets. The criteria to participate in this program is to have a registered business for three years or have a registered business with an export ready product. If you are new to business and would like to learn what it takes to become an exporter, your ambition is also welcome. We are thankful to expand the MBDA strategy by helping minorities grow, flourish, and gain greater access to global markets.
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Get Your COVID-19 Vaccination Today!
HOPE Clinic offers Monday to Friday COVID-19 vaccination at our HOPE Main location 7001 Corporate Dr. STE 133, Houston, TX 77036 in heart of Asiatown. Call ahead to book (713)773-0803 or just walk in Monday to Friday 9AM to 4PM.
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Building for Growth (BFG) is a new tuition-free executive education program that aims to best position BIPOC- and woman-owned construction businesses for growth and to effectively compete for larger-scale contracts.
The 21-week virtual BFG program, which begins May 12, 2022, is designed to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color)-owned and woman-owned construction-related companies reach their next level of success by helping them to develop sustainable growth strategies that position their small businesses to build capacity and accelerate profitable growth.
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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
EVENTS & RESOURCES
WORKFORCE WEBINAR SERIES
In case you missed the Workforce Webinar Series, all recordings are now available on our website at http://houstontx.gov/obo/workforce_development_programs.html . Go on to hear from some wonderful partners like Dress for Success Houston, Houston Financial Empowerment Center, JW Marriott and more to hear about their offerings for job seekers.
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In an effort to assist small businesses in navigating the City’s procurement process, the Office of Business Opportunity, in collaboration with the Strategic Procurement Division, is pleased to present the new City of Houston (COH) Procurement 101 Tool. These web-based, on-demand training videos walk prospective City contractors through topics including How to Bid on Contracts, Responding to RFPs, RFQs, and ITBs, Pre-Bid Meetings, Structuring the Team – Prime & Sub, Contract Terms & Conditions, and much more. The web-based training videos are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
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Employers looking to hire young, local talent can find great candidates through the #HireHoustonYouth Job Board, which is open for employers to post positions that are available to youth 16 to 24 on a year-round and summer basis.
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Do you have a small business or a nonprofit affected by
COVID-19?
Get a FREE legal consultation
through our HSBLC Program.
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Defining company structure is the foundation of all future work and policies you are going to build and draft for your business. It also affects your taxes and the extent of personal liability in the event of a lawsuit The workshop is specially developed for entrepreneurs starting a new business or planning to grow their business. The three primary considerations are; (a) Choosing a legal business structure,”(b) understanding government regulations and types of business insurance, and (c) the federal, state and local taxation of business entities.” Presenter: Rita Leader, Corporate Attorney (retired) and SCORE Mentor. KEY TOPICS Business Plans/Startup Assistance & Legal Issues.
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