OBO, Strategic Partners Share Mission of Assisting Small Business Community

By: Pearl K. Cajoles

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) brought together its partner organizations – the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), BakerRipley, the Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber and LiftFund – in a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) virtual signing held on Jan. 7. This event formalized the alignment of their missions and their shared commitment to serving Houston’s small business community.

“We are proud and excited about the collaborative relationship we have with the SBA and other strategic partners,” said OBO Director Marsha E. Murray. “The assistance we have all provided to the small business community through the years could not have been possible if we didn’t lean on each other to help implement our programs and services.”

In 2020, OBO and SBA partnered to educate aspiring entrepreneurs with SBA’s Business Smart workshop, as well as hosting a series of webinars about disaster preparation, international trade and senior citizen entrepreneurship. Several workshops will be announced through the end of the year. The SBA also provides information during OBO’s I’m Certified, What’s Next quarterly workshops and in the Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition. And, through the SBA’s informational sessions about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), OBO has been able share accurate information with the small business community.

In addition to the organizations present during the SAM signing, OBO also partners with other governmental and nonprofit agencies, Houston-area chambers of commerce, Houston City Council district offices, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and corporate and community partners for mutual assistance with sharing information, instruction and speaking opportunities, and other forms of community programs.

These collaborative partners have been key to the success of OBO’s business and workforce development programming, including the Liftoff Houston, Houston Small Business Legal Consultations Program, the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program, Turner School of Construction Management, Ascend Houston, and the Turnaround Houston Readiness Fairs. Visit houstontx.gov/ OBO to learn more about the scope of OBO’s free services.

“With the recent winter storm and the pandemic continuing through 2021, it is even more important to assist Houston’s small business community with muchneeded information and resources,” Murray said.

“We are so grateful for the invaluable assistance of our strategic partners, and in return, we are eager to help them advance their missions. By working together collectively now and in the future, we look forward to making a real difference in the communities we serve.”

4 Ways Partnerships Can Benefit a Company

-Foster a Culture of Collaboration

-Leverage Local Ties

-Build Trust with a Community

-Increase Brand Awareness

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE: Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and its strategic partners – the Office of Business Opportunity, BakerRipley, the Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber and LiftFund – gathered virtually to formalize their shared commitment to serving Houston’s small business community.

OBO Programs and Partners:

Liftoff Houston Startup Business Plan Competition: Houston Public Library, Capital One Bank, SCORE, LiftFund, PeopleFund, U.S. Small Business Admistration, Houston Community College, Houston Business Development, Inc.

Houston Small Business Legal Consultations Program: Vinson & Elkins, Akin Gump, Arnold & Porter, Blank Rome, DLA Piper, Fish & Richardson, Greenberg Traurig, Hunton Andrews Kurth, Kilpatrick Townsend, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Mayer Brown, Morgan Lewis, Norton Rose Fulbright, Orrick, Perkins Coie, Sidley Austin, Simpson Thacher, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Ascend Houston: LiftFund, Houston Community College

Interagency Mentor Protégé Program: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston Independent School District, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation

Turner School of Construction Management: Turner Construction Company

Turnaround Houston Readiness Fairs: Texas Workforce Solutions

For more information about OBO’s business development and workforce development programs, go to houstontx.gov/ obo.