Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Texas Small Business News | March 2017

Office of the Governor Texas sent this bulletin at 03/30/2017 09:20 AM CDT

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Welcome to the March edition of the newsletter from the Governor’s Office of Small Business Assistance. The Office works to establish the State of Texas as the premier place to start, grow and sustain a business. Thank you for your part in making Texas the best place to do business.

Texas Workforce Forum:
April 17-19 | Austin,TX

Register to attend the annual Workforce Forum set to take place April 17 – 19 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Austin.

Supported by the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Workforce and Board Support department, the Workforce Forum is an opportunity for workforce and vocational rehabilitation staff, education and business partners, and workforce stakeholders to collaborate, innovate and streamline services to enhance Texas Workforce Solutions service delivery.

To attend the event, registration details are at Workforce Forum or email workforce.forum@twc.state.tx.us.

Texas Rural Challenge:
Early Registration Now Open!

Join us in Waco, June 29-30, for the 8th Annual Texas Rural Challenge (TRC). With more than 300 attendees from over 90 Texas cities, the Texas Rural Challenge is the largest conference of its kind in the state.

Hosted in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Texas Workforce Commission, and the UTSA Institute for Economic Development – SBDC Rural Business Program, the TRC conference focuses on small business, economic and community development, rural issues, and features presentations and workshops by influential leaders aimed at Empowering Rural Texas.

Register

Texas Companies: Discover Export Potential with the Governor's Office

The Office of the Governor invites Texas-based companies to be a part of State of Texas Pavilions at 2017 trade shows (see calendar).

There's no cost to exhibit in all state-sponsored turnkey pavilions. Eligible companies must be:

Texas-registered, established and independent
Meets SBA "Small Business Concern" guidelines
Understand the costs associated with exporting
Not debarred from receiving state or federal funding

For more information, contact Michael Treyger.

Team Spotlight: Leticia Flores, Community Relations Represenative

Leticia "Letty" Flores joined the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division in January of 2007.

In her role as the Lower South Texas Regional Representative, Leticia serves as the Governor's Office liaison to local communities and offers her support by facilitating information on the state's economic development financial incentives and resources. She also coordinates efforts with other state agencies in the region.

Before joining the Governor’s Office, Leticia held the position of Operations Manager for Workforce Training and Continuing Education at South Texas College, as well as Internal Consultant for British Petroleum, formerly Amoco Corporation in Oklahoma, and Assistant Vice President for Chase Bank, Corporate Trust Division in Houston.

If she can be of assistance to you, contact Leticia at leticia.flores@gov.texas.gov .

Sign up for Economic Development Workshops

The Community Relations team continues to work with communities and regional partners across the state to conduct the Governor's Office Economic Development Workshops.

The goal of the workshops is to bring together various economic development stakeholders and community partners to help raise awareness on current economic development topics, including: Best Practices in Business Recruitment; Resources Available on Local, State and Federal Levels; Business Expansion and Retention, and any other economic development concerns.

If you are interested in conducting an Economic Development Workshop in your region, please contact your Community Relations Representative for more information.

Free Small Business Advice
at Texas Tech Expo

Learn how to increase business opportunities with state and federal agencies at the Texas Tech University Small Business Expo held on May 3, 2017, from 8:00 AM-12:30 PM at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center in Lubbock.

The business expo will feature presentations from the Office of the Governor, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Northwest Texas Procurement Assistance Center.

For more information about the event, please email sbexpo@ttu.edu. Join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #TTUSBE17.

Register for 2017 Texas Business Conferences

Texas Workforce
Commission's Office of the Commissioner Representing Employers sponsors the Texas Business Conferences, a series of employer seminars around the state.

Grapevine, April 27-28
Temple, May 19
Bastrop, June 2
Fort Worth, June 16
Beaumont, July 14
Texarkana, August 11
Lubbock, August 25
San Antonio, September 14-15

To sign up, visit the TWC website.

National Small Business Week

The Office of Small Business Assistance wants to know what Texas communities and regional partners have planned for this year's National Small Business Week, May 1-5, 2017.

Please let us know how your organization would like to partner with the Governor's Office. Contact Brad Napp for details.

Opportunity for Reimbursement of Export-Related Expenses

Texas companies may apply for a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant for up to $5,000 in reimbursements, to help cover export-related expenses, including travel.

For details, and to apply, click here.

2017 Trade Shows

Hannover Messe
April 24-28, Hannover, Germany (Sold out)

Offshore Technology Conference
May 1-4, Houston (Sold out)

Automechanika
June 14-16, Mexico City
(Booth space available)

International Paris Air Show
June 19-25, Paris, France (Sold out)

BIO International Convention
June 19-22, San Diego
(Booth space available)

Medica
November 13-16, Dusseldorf, Germany
(Booth space available)

For full list of upcoming events, click here

Register for 2017 Texas - EU Business Summit

Register to attend the 6th annual Texas- Europe Business Summit, to be held May 9, 2017, from 9:30 AM-4:30PM, at the University of Texas at Austin Event Hall.

For more information, and to register, click here.