City of Houston
Mayor’s Office
Media Release
Date: 04/30/2018
HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner declared the week of April 29th to May 5th as National Small Business Week in Houston.
“Today, we come together to recognize and celebrate our small business community, which is the backbone of this great city,” Mayor Turner said.
The mayor notes the importance of entrepreneurship and the connection it has to his “Complete Communities” initiative. Complete Communities launched in April 2017, with the goal of ensuring that neighborhoods across Houston have access to quality education, affordable housing, transportation options, green spaces, healthy food options, economic opportunity, and well-maintained infrastructure.
“The ultimate goal is to create sustainable, ‘complete’ neighborhoods that are safe, affordable and economically viable,” Mayor Turner said. “And the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners is key to making this vision a reality.”
The mayor was joined by Small Business Administration District Director Tim Jeffcoat and the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity Director Carlecia Wright, who along with members of PeopleFund will participate in workshops and networking events throughout Houston designed to support and help grow small businesses.
“More than $1 billion in loans were guaranteed by the SBA in Houston last year.” Jeffcoat said. “At the SBA, it is our honor and privilege to help Houston’s small businesses.”
Director Carlecia Wright noted the city’s commitment to helping small businesses succeed, ranging from its directory of certified small businesses to the Solutions Center, providing answers to entrepreneurs across the region.
“It can range from walking that engineer through the process on how to open the next hot, tech start-up to classes on how to write a business plan to opening a bakery,” Director Wright said. “The Office of Business Opportunity is there assist every step of the way.”
For more on SBA events, visit:
https://www.sba.gov/node/1572576
For more on Innovation Week from PeopleFund, visit:
https://peoplefund.org/iwhou/
For more on the Office of Business Opportunity, visit:
www.houstontx.gov/obo
Contact:
Alan Bernstein
Communications Director
Office: 832.393.0800
Mobile: 832.943.9835
Alan.Bernstein@houstontx.gov
Mary Benton
Press Secretary
Office: 832.393.0830
Mobile: 713.208.6229
Mary.Benton@houstontx.gov
