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E-Newsletter | July 20, 2022
 
 
Chamber Events and Announcements
 
 

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
 
 
CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS
 
Help spotlight a rising RISING company at our Annual RISING 10 Awards
 
BUSINESS RESOURCES AND PARTNER EVENTS
 

APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW UNTIL
 
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Asian American and Pacific Islander American (AAPI) business owners across the country hard. Now, as signs of recovery emerge, the long tail of COVID’s economic impact on small businesses continues.
 
To support AAPI business owners and entrepreneurs, Reimagine Main Street and National ACE – with financial support from Meta – are partnering with community organizations across the country to launch AAPISTRONG: Small Business Grants.
 
The new initiative will provide $2 million in cash grants to help 100 AAPI business owners grow and thrive.
 
●     40 AAPI business owners will receive $10,000 each in cash grants;
 
●     60 AAPI business owners will receive $25,000 each in cash grants.
 
Applications open until July 26, and interested entrepreneurs can sign up now to receive information as soon as applications go live! APPLY TODAY!
 
 
ACE NextGen would like to extend a VIP invite to you for our 5th Annual National Conference on October 12-14, 2022 in Chicago at the McDonald’s Global Headquarters. 
 
The conference theme this year is Unity. The intention is to unite, connect and empower AAPI entrepreneurs and business owners across the country. VIP tickets are available to you and your special guests for $150 each (Please use code UNITYACC at checkout). Alternatively, regular conference tickets are $1,000 and proceeds go back to our nonprofit initiatives to support AAPI small businesses.
 
2-Day Admission Ticket Include:
 
  • Access to 20 different speakers and workshops including Bing Chen of Gold House, Bryan Pham & Maggie Chui of Asian Hustle Network, & Andrew Yang of Humanity Forward. Topics include: Profit First, Traction 101, Crypto, & Mindfulness
  • Gala Ticket to the Pathfinder Awards Ceremony Celebration with Live DJ/Poker
  • Networking opportunities with 200+ AAPI entrepreneurs from across America
  • Founder Pass to meet local Chicago AAPI business founders
  • Meet speakers and special guests like Karen Eng of National ACE, Andrew Chau of Boba Guys, Ha Nguyen of 7leaves, Bill Imada of IW Group
  • Free ACE NextGen membership for 2023
  • Food and Beverage for the 2-Day Conference
 
Please email Kat Pham, the ACE NextGen Program Director, at [email protected] if you have any questions.
 
 
 
The Office of the Governor would like to announce the launch of a new recovery program, the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR), which will begin accepting applications July 6, 2022. The purpose of this program is to provide grants to Texas businesses in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry that were negatively impacted due to COVID-19.
 
The TTIR program will issue a one-time grant of up to $20,000 to eligible Texas businesses in the following industries: arts, entertainment, and recreation; food services and drinking places; traveler accommodation; RV parks and recreational camps; traveler arrangement and reservation services; convention and tradeshow organizers; breweries; wineries; and distilleries.
 
Applications will be accepted in phases by industry group. Below is a listing of application timelines, based on business NAICS code.
 
Application Timelines:
  • Category 1 – July 6 to July 31, 2022: NAICS 312120, 312130, 312140, 5615, 561920, and 7212
  • Category 2 – August 1 to August 21, 2022: NAICS 71
  • Category 3 – August 22 to September 11, 2022: NAICS 7211
  • Category 4 – September 12 to October 2, 2022: NAICS 722
  • Category 5 – If funds remain after the first four phases a fifth phase will revisit any unfunded applications to award the remaining funds.
 
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office will host a series of webinars for specific industry groups to provide more information and answer questions on the program and application process. To register for the webinars and for eligibility and grant application details, deadlines, and more, click the link below. 
Applications will be accepted through the TTIR Program Portal beginning July 6, 2022, in accordance with application timelines by industry grouping.
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and FedEx have teamed up to create the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Program. This program helps small businesses prepare for a disaster and offers immediate relief funding for those prepared businesses when a disaster strikes their region. More than 100 grants of $5,000 each are expected to be distributed between June 2022 and May 2023. 
 
“FedEx is proud to continue its long history of supporting small business resiliency and recovery. This multi-year commitment with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation allows us to contribute directly to small businesses that actively prepare for natural disasters,” said Jenny Robertson, Senior Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications at FedEx.
 
How it Works
 
This program is designed to encourage preparedness and resiliency. We want to ensure that all small businesses have what they need to deal with the impacts of a disaster in their community. 
 
The R4R program provides resources and incentives for small businesses to take the actions they need to become more resilient, including the distribution of grants following a disaster.
 
Step 1: Complete the Preparedness Checklist
Download FedEx’s Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Small Businesses (available in English and Spanish), and make sure you have completed an Emergency Action Plan as outlined in the checklist.
 
Step 2: Apply
Fill out the application, which asks details about you and your business.
 
Step 3: Grants Awarded
Our team will monitor disaster declarations and individual/home assistance distinctions by FEMA. If your business meets the following criteria and is selected for a grant, we will reach out to you.
  • Your business is located within an area impacted by the declared disaster.
  • Your application was submitted before the disaster occurred.
For more information on eligibility and process, check out our FAQs page or contact us at [email protected].
 
 
 
National ACE’s AAPISTRONG Annual Conference will deliver engaging leadership programming and networking opportunities for AAPI business leaders. Attendees will discover innovative opportunities, receive legislative updates, and hear from founders, investors, and community leaders who are setting new industry standards. Breakout rooms will include a discussion led by panelists from industry leaders, who will share best practices for growth, contracting opportunities, and matchmaking, and will include a local chamber development track. Attendees can attend the Marketplace Expo, one-on-one matchmaker meetings between suppliers and top corporations, panels with Fortune 500 companies, and an awards dinner celebrating the achievements of our AAPI business leaders and community advocates.
 
 
 
We invite you and your members to join the LinkedIn LIVE conversation with Winchell Cheung, Director Midwest at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as we discuss how U.S. businesses can grow and expand into Hong Kong and throughout Asia by leveraging online business development tools, overcoming barriers to entry, tips for marketing to overseas consumers, eCommerce practices, and digital marketing strategies to grow their exports, sales, brand, and business online globally.
 
Date: Friday, July 22
Time: 9:00 AM CST/10:00 AM CST
 
 
 
 
Fort Bend ISD’s Small Business Enterprise Program (SBEP)

The Fort Bend Independent School District’s Small Business Enterprise Program (“SBEP”) Focus Group is calling for participants.

Read more
asianchamber-hou.org
 
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. For contact information, please visit our website at www.mbdaexporthouston.com.
 
 
 
 

OSHA’s Guide in Preparing for Hurricane Season
 
 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
Work for Port Houston
 
Get in on the action at Port Houston where You can be a part of a great team; where You can help create an environment of excellence; where You can be a part of a tradition, more than 100 years in the making.
 
We want your work at Port Houston to be more than a job – we want it to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging and rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, competitive pay, benefits that protect you and your family, and a high performance culture that recognizes and values your contributions and helps you reach your career goals.
 
We offer all full-time employees benefits that allow employees to choose the benefits they desire and need.
 
 
 
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.
 
For contact information, please visit our website at www.mbdaexporthouston.com.
 
 
 

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. 
 
 
 

Do you have a small business or a nonprofit affected by COVID-19?
Get a FREE legal consultation through our HSBLC Program.