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Networking Events/ Opportunities
Doing Business with our Educational Institutions
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 11am-1pm

Representatives from some of the Houston's area's most prominent institutions will review their operations, new fiscal year budgets and related upcoming projects. They will also discuss new initiatives as we start the new school year with in house learning programs and how to effectively do business with their institutions. Those participants and their representatives from independent school districts (K-12) to Colleges and Universities.
The Comcast RISE Investment Fund is focused on small businesses in Harris and Fort Bend Counties that have been in business for three or more years with 1 to 25 employees.
 
Eligible businesses can apply online at www.ComcastRISE.com from October 1 through October 14 for one of the one hundred $10,000 grants.
 
 
More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or the marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. 
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.
Do you have a small business or a nonprofit affected by COVID-19?
Get a FREE legal consultation
through our HSBLC Program.
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.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Deadline(s)
 
Have you applied for PPP borrower forgiveness? Once all loan proceeds for which the borrower is requesting forgiveness have been used, borrowers can apply for forgiveness any time up to the maturity date of the loan (two or five years from loan origination).
 
If borrowers do not apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period, then PPP loan payments are no longer deferred, and borrowers will begin making loan payments to their PPP lender. Example, a borrower whose covered period ends on October 30, 2020 has until August 30, 2021 to apply for forgiveness before loan repayment begins.


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. 
Office of Business Opportunity | 611 Walker 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
The University of Houston Procurement Technical Assistance Center (UH PTAC) offers education and guidance to individuals interested in selling their goods and services to Federal, State, and Local Government. The UH PTAC provides no-cost government contracting assistance to individuals in 32 counties in and around the cities of Houston, Beaumont, and College Station. Visit our website to see a list of the counties we serve. 

This Procurement Technical Assistance Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.