Business Resources
Minority & Women-Owned Business Certifications
Partnership Lake Houston is proud to work with the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) and the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance to provide workshops and opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned businesses to learn how they can get their certification. Workshops and seminars are held at various times throughout the year.
Minority-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Becoming certified as an MBE validates that a business is predominantly owned by a minority or group of minorities. Most government purchasing agencies and corporations track and have programs for doing business with minority-owned vendor companies. Certification also opens the doors to services set up specifically for minority-owned businesses such as grants, loans, contracts for minorities, and corporate diversity program participation.
Houston Minority Supplier Development Council
Three Riverway Suite 555
Houston, Texas 77056
T: 713-271-7805
F: 713-271-9770
Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Partnership Lake Houston is proud to work with Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance to help connect women-owned businesses with profitable business opportunities. Through collaborative programming and one of Houston’s SBA Resource Centers, WBEA serves as a resource to offer training for Corporate Members to help grow their small businesses. This world-class certification is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations and represents America’s most prestigious brands. To achieve WBENC Certification, women-owned businesses complete a formal documentation and site visit process which is administered by WBEA. WBENC Certification gives women-owned businesses the ability to compete with a distinct edge.
Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance
9800 Northwest Freeway Ste 120
Houston, Texas 77092
T: 713-681-9232
F: 713-681-9242
Resources & Counseling
Partnership Lake Houston works with several entities to offer free counseling to businesses.
Lone Star College Small Business Development Center
Together with the Partnership, the Small Business Development Center provides personalized management consulting services for existing businesses and for individuals interested in starting new businesses. Our team of experienced consultants, all of whom are prior business owners themselves, will work with you to develop strategies to grow your existing business or to get your new venture off to the best possible start. SBDC consultants help business owners increase sales, reduce operating costs, create business plans, and improve bottom-line performance. We also have the ability to work with you to improve website design, create and implement social media strategies, conduct market research, and optimize manufacturing processes.
The SBDC receives funding and support from the Small Business Administration, the University of Houston, and the Lone Star College System, which allows us to provide our services at little or no cost to the client.
For more information, visit http://www.lonestar.sbdcnetwork.net/lonestar/default.asp
To request services from the SBDC, please contact us by email at sbdc@lonestar.edu or by phone at 832-813-6674.
SCORE
Partnership Lake Houston is a partner with SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) along with our network of 13,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at a very low cost.
For more information, visit http://www.score.org
Exporters can get Certificates of Origin signed at the Partnership Lake Houston office located at 110 West Main Street, Humble, TX 77338.
A Certificate of Origin (CO) may be required by a foreign country because of established Treaty arrangements, varying duty rates, and preferential duty treatment dependent on the shipment´s origin. The CO verifies the country in which the goods were manufactured. A Certificate of Origin requires the authorized signature of the local Chamber of Commerce designated representative and the seal of that organization.
Reserve Partnership Board Room
Partnership members can reserve the Board Room during business hours (8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., M-F) for business use FREE of charge. Non-members can reserve the room for $75 (up to 4 hours) or $150 (more than 4 hours).
Reservations
Room reservations can be made up to two months in advance by contacting Shannon Magee at the Partnership office (281) 446-2128.
Tables
Tables and chairs seating up to 30-35 people are included in your reservation.
A/V Equipment
Two HD TV’s with wifi connection, conference room microphone and podium may be available for use upon request if they are not already scheduled to be used by staff for other Partnership meetings or events.