Recent reports from Tarrant County Public Health Director, Vinny Taneja, confirm that the newest strain of Covid-19, Omicron BA.5, has become one of the dominant variants in the United States and here in North Texas.

Please click on this link for current updates from Tarrant County Public Health.

On a more positive front, the ARPA (American Relief Plan Act) grant program launched through Tarrant County on July 11. If you own a small business with 50 or fewer employees that qualifies, you could receive $2,500 for the business and $1,000 per employee up to a total maximum of $27,500. Please visit www.tarrantcounty.com/recovery for complete details.

Our Heart of North Texas leadership team of Kathryn Rotter, RaDonna Hessel, and Craig Hulse, continue to lead their committee to craft an impressive agenda for our 25^th edition, titled, “May the Workforce be with You, Now and in the Future.” Sponsorships and table registrations are rolling in, so don’t miss out! Typically held on a Friday, please note, this year, the date and time is Wednesday, November 2, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30p.m at the Hurst Conference Center. For sponsorships, registration and more information, please contact RaDonna at radonna@grapevinechamber.org.

We look forward to our next breakfast on Tuesday, August 16, at the Hurst Conference Center. Cameron Cushman, Assistant Vice President of Innovation Ecosystems at The University of North Texas Health Science Center, will provide insights on HSC Net, a startup and small business incubator.

I will always be receptive to your ideas, so please contact me at 817-564-2300 or at sbruhn@ffin.com.

-Shelby Bruhn

Tarrant County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gary Fickes and his team have launched the recently allocated $25 million for another round of grants to small businesses that remain affected by the pandemic. Grant amounts range between $2,500 to $27,500, depending upon your number of employees retained. 

Grant funding will be depleted quickly given the number of eligible applicants. To determine eligibility please CLICK HERE for the document that explains both the program and required documentation in detail, or visit the website listed below. 

25^th Annual Heart of North Texas Conference

What a clever title for the 25^th anniversary of the Heart of North Texas:

Kathryn Rotter, RaDonna Hessel, and Craig Hulse have been leading their committee in a combination of in-person and Zoom meetings to launch our major November event. The date will be Wednesday, November 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hurst Conference Center. 

Please click below to view the sponsorship flyer or contact RaDonna Hessel for more details about how your company may become a supporter of this event.

Please reach out to your local chamber of commerce and ask about their leadership program. Most of our chambers are winding down their recruitment campaigns.

This is your opportunity to identify emerging leaders and seasoned leaders within your company or organization to grow their circle of influence and connections. All Chambers of Commerce listed below participate in leadership programs. Please contact them directly for more information. 

Our August 16 breakfast speaker will be Cameron Cushman, Assistant Vice President of Innovation Ecosystems at The University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Cameron has more than a decade of experience building entrepreneurial communities, having worked for President George W. Bush and later at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. There, he led several initiatives to help build entrepreneurial communities. Cameron also co-founded 1 Million Cups, the weekly educational event for entrepreneurs that is now in 180 U.S. cities – including North Richland Hills – and in 30 countries.

As you interact with business and community leaders who impress you, please invite them to sit at your table for our next NLF breakfast on Tuesday morning, August 16 at the Hurst Conference Center. These influencers are making a difference in our area, so let's invite them to participate in NLF. Membership is the lifeblood of our organization.

For any prospective NLF members you may know, click here to download the membership application. We want both established and emerging leaders to continue to join our organization to further the dynamic growth of Northeast Tarrant County. 

We specifically ask you to welcome visitors and new members to our breakfast meetings because growing the power of networks is one of the main benefits of NLF.

Please reach out to Craig Hulse, our membership chairman, if you have a prospect: chulse@nrhtx.com or 972-849-3858.

The HEB ISD Board of Trustees approved Joe Harrington, Ed.D. as Superintendent of Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District at the March 28 board meeting. He previously served HEB ISD as Deputy Superintendent for Educational Operations and Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Administration.

His philosophy in life and work: “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” so he is a constant learner and motivator to help engage and motivate his team of administrators, educators, and support staff as they energize the district's students.

Shelly Lemman obtained her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. Life happened and the next thing she knew, she was 10 years into being a stay-at-home mom helping make ends meet by teaching preschool when the itch to further her education hit.

Location: Hurst Conference Center

Date: Wednesday, November 2

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Location: Hurst Conference Center

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Radonna Hessell.