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Chamber Events and Announcements
FREE PUBLIC EVENT FOR RESTAURANT OWNERS

The Asian Chamber of Commerce along with Harris County Precinct 4 Community Assistance Department would like to invite you to a WORKSHOP for RESTAURANT OWNERS. Come hear from Harris County Health Department and Fire Marshall on best practices. We want to help keeping your restaurants in compliance.

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A RESTAURANT OWNER OR IN THE FOOD SERVICES INDUSTRY TO ATTEND.

Monday Apr 11, 2022 | 2-4pm In-Person
Tracy Gee Community Center
3599 Westcenter Drive
Houston, TX 77042
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
  • April 11 (Mon) - 2pm - 4pm | Trace Gee Community Center (3599 Westcenter Drive, Houston, TX 77042)
  • Hear from Harris County Health Department and Fire Marshal on best practices and be in proper code to remain open.

Session 2 (Virtual via Zoom) - Cost Savings through Energy Efficiency
  • April 19 (Tues) - 2pm - 3pm CT
  • 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.

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
BUSINESS RESOURCES AND PARTNER EVENTS
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.
 

Visit www.fortbendisd.com/sbep for more details. 

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
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!
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.

For more information, e-mail Quinncy McNeal, Pro Bono Counsel at quinncy.mcneal@huschblackwell.com or call 713-525-6253.
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.
Applications are now open for the Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund

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.  

For more information and to apply, visit: www.TheSoarFund.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.
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.
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. 
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.

Register your opportunities today at https://hirehoustonyouth.force.com/s/employer-registration
Do you have a small business or a nonprofit affected by
COVID-19?
Get a FREE legal consultation 
through our HSBLC Program.
LGBTBE Certified Firms now Searchable in the City of Houston’s Certified Firm Directory

The City of Houston’s certified firm directory now includes certified LGBT Businesses Enterprises (LGBTBE). This partnership was made possible through Executive Order 1-70: City Inclusion and Opportunity Initiative for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Community (E.O.), signed by Mayor Turner on March 4, 2021. This E.O. established a historic collaboration between the City of Houston, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The formal recognition of LGBTBEs in City procurement will serve as a catalyst for increased access and economic gains for the LGBT business community. 
 
 
To apply for the LGBTBE Certification, visit the NGLCC website.
QUICK LINKS
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.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
PLATINUM CORPORATE MEMBERS
DIAMOND CORPORATE MEMBERS
GOLD BUSINESS MEMBERS
AARP Texas, Allegiance Bank, BlueCross BlueShield, China Star Restaurant Group, Cole Chemical & Distributing, Focused Care at Westwood, Foster LLP, Jascole, Inc., Mattioli Vision Professionals, Nguyen & Chen, LLP, Offshore Intel, The Red Cardinal Group at Morgan Stanley, Royal Public Schools, Savve Concepts, Sheraton Houston Brookhollow, Truist Bank, University of Houston-Victoria at Katy, and Utegration
LIFETIME MEMBERS

Kristopher Ahn, Yong J. An, Dr. Parvin Bagherpour, The Honorable Theresa Chang, The Honorable Alice Chen, Donna Cole, Lucy DeVilla, Trung Doan, Harry Gee, Jr., Glen Gondo, Shahid Javed, Shirley Kwan, Catherine A. Le, Stephen Le, Jr., C.C. Lee, Kenneth Li, Chris Nam, Gordon Quan, Randy Sim, Y. Ping Sun, E. Allan Tiller, Irsan Tisnabudi, Linda Toyota, Don Wang, Don Woo, Jason Yoo, and Austin Zhao