|
|
|
E-Newsletter | May 25, 2022
|
|
|
Chamber Events and Announcements
|
|
|
Join us for our May 2022 Networking Night (IN-PERSON) celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Bring your friends and coworkers to celebrate with us!
Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 5:30-7:30pm
GiAu Bar N Bites
|
|
|
In celebration of AAPI Heritage month, join the Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston in supporting Asian restaurants in the Greater Houston area. Sign up for the free Asian Restaurant Month digital pass. The pass is a directory of participating restaurants and allows
guests to explore restaurants by categories, cuisines and locations. The more restaurants passholders visit during May, AAPI Heritage Month, the more prizes they can unlock.
|
|
|
If you weren’t able to attend the Restaurant Series, Watch the recordings. Great resources in keeping your establishment open and growing.
|
|
|
BUSINESS RESOURCES AND PARTNER EVENTS
|
|
|
National ACE to Open Applications on June 1, 2022 for the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund in Partnership with the Grubhub Community Fund to Help Struggling AAPI-owned Restaurants
|
|
|
Independent restaurants across the country can apply for a grant up to $100,000 through the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund
The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) today announced the second year of the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund to support independent, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned restaurants, a program enabled by a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. With the industry facing unprecedented challenges since the pandemic began over two years ago, the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is available to help restaurants respond to supply chain disruptions, increased inventory costs, workforce development, and discrimination. The monetary grants can help pay employees’ wages, expand operations, renovate for new business needs, upgrade equipment, explore e-commerce offerings, or repair damage to the place of business caused by anti-Asian sentiment.
The contributions from Grubhub and its diners will provide relief for AAPI restaurant owners who may not have received financial assistance from the federal government or those who are trying to emerge from the long-lasting and devastating impacts of the pandemic.”
Eligible restaurants across the country will be able to apply for a $25,000 grant, and over 70 restaurants will be awarded in September 2022. Three finalists will be awarded $100,000, $75,000, and $50,000 live at the National ACE Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. from September 19-21, 2022.
From June 1 to June 22, 2022, the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund will accept grant applications from all AAPI-owned restaurants throughout the United States.
To qualify for grant assistance, AAPI-owned restaurants must satisfy all of the following requirements:
1. The restaurant must be Asian American/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian majority-owned (at least 51%);
2. Must be based in the United States;
3. Must be currently operational;
4. Must show proof of their primary licensed activity as “the preparation and serving of food”;
5. Must operate in a maximum of three locations (cannot be a franchise).
The application period will close on June 22, 2022 and grants will be distributed to restaurants throughout Fall 2022. Interested restaurants can learn more about the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund and the full application process at https://www.aapistrong.com/current-grants
|
|
|
Digital Ready is our online curriculum designed to give small businesses like yours the personalized tools to succeed in today’s digital world. Learning modules, expert coaching, peer networking, access grant opportunities throughout the year and more—it’s all here, and it’s all part of our goal to provide resources to help one million small businesses thrive in the digital economy.
$10,000 grant opportunities now available.
To apply, complete two courses or coaching events between 1/1/22 – 6/30/22, and apply by 6/30/22.
More information can be found at:
Need help registering?
|
|
|
The Port Houston Business Equity Team invite you to participate in a Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Contractor Training Workshop (Virtual) on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The workshop will provide prospective prime contractors an opportunity to learn more about Port Houston’s MWBE Program and enrich your understanding of the following:
- Gain knowledge on submitting Port Houston bids or proposals
- Discussion of Port Houston’s MWBE contracting goals and how to meet these goals
- Understanding good faith effort standards
- Review commercially useful function requirements
- Gain an understanding of contract performance compliance standards
- Overview of MWBE outreach activities
These topics and others will be covered by Colette Holt, President/CEO of Colette Holt & Associates, a national law and consulting firm specializing in Minority,
Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 713-670-2590.
Gilda Ramirez
Sr. Director
Business Equity
PORT HOUSTON
O: +1.713.670.2590 F: +1.713.670.2498
111 East Loop North, Houston, Texas 77029
|
|
|
The Minority Business Development Agency has announced the Access to Capital: Innovative Finance Grant Competition. This grant competition requests applications from qualified organizations for projects addressing historical barriers to capital minority business enterprises (MBEs) face by leveraging non-traditional financial resources. The projects can utilize technical assistance models, pilot innovative solutions, leverage technology, advance research and data, or provide education to non-traditional lenders. MBDA seeks market solutions to the barriers of access to capital that acknowledge lack of traditional collateral/assets as an impediment for MBEs. The projects align with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) strategic mission to support the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises (MBEs) and the Administration’s strategic priority to advance racial equity and support underserved communities through the Federal government.
|
|
|
SBA Houston is seeking 40 top-quality small business CEOs by June 1 for our dynamic CEO training program called THRIVE. It combines in-person and virtual training, features contemporary training materials, can be customized for the needs of specific businesses, is totally focused on GROWTH, and is FREE!
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Do you have a small business or a nonprofit affected by
COVID-19?
Get a FREE legal consultation
through our HSBLC Program.
|
|
|
