by EGBI Tech Team | Mar 26, 2024 | Partnerships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMBR Announces Partnership with EBGI to Empower Small, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
Austin, TX – The City of Austin’s Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) is thrilled to
announce a new partnership with the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI). The collaboration is
set to significantly enhance the support services available for the City’s small, minority and women-
owned business enterprises (MBE/WBE) by focusing on crucial aspects of business growth and city
procurement processes.
A New Era of Business Support and Growth
“Through this partnership, we are reinforcing our commitment to the growth and success of small,
minority and women-owned businesses in Austin,” said Director of SMBR Edward Campos.
“Collaborating with EGBI allows us to offer a more comprehensive range of services tailored to the
unique challenges our small, minority-and -women-owned businesses face.”
For more than 20 years, EGBI has provided training, coaching and support to aspiring and existing
business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
“EGBI has always been where the community needs it, and we’re excited to partner with SMBR in this
endeavor. We provide three times the average coaching hours than most business incubators – and
SMBR comes with their impact. Our goal is to provide sustainable growth and success for the businesses
that provide traction to our economy,” said Executive Director of EGBI Larissa Davila. “We believe that
through this collaboration, we can make a significant difference in the Austin business community.”
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The partnership will encompass a variety of services aimed at strengthening the business capabilities of
firms:
Orientation and Training: Firms will receive comprehensive guidance on navigating the City of
Austin Finance Online website, enhancing their ability to submit bids and secure city contracts.
Business Coaching: Expert coaching will cover an array of topics including business strategy,
financial management, preparation for financing applications, and navigating city payment
processes.
Financial Operations Support: Assistance in adopting more reliable systems for tracking financial
operations, including setting up and training on QuickBooks Online.
Hands-On Assistance: Firms will learn how to effectively utilize financial reports for business
management and gain insight into finding and responding to contracting opportunities.
A Step Forward in Economic Development and Social Mobility
The partnership represents a significant step in fostering business development and economic mobility
in Austin. By empowering small, minority and women-owned businesses, the City of Austin reaffirms its
commitment to creating an inclusive and thriving business environment.
How to Get Involved
To receive training, coaching, and/or support from EGBI, small and minority-owned businesses will need
to complete a short intake form that is available on the City’s website. Firms will then need to submit
the form to SMBR’S Program Manager I Catherine Sak at Catherine.Sak@austintexas.gov or
smbr@austintexas.gov.
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About SMBR
The Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) administers Minority-Owned, Women-
Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Procurement Programs for the City of Austin. Our
mission is to promote access and equity on City of Austin contracts, providing economic opportunity to
small, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses.
About EBGI
Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) is a small business incubator or business accelerator
established in 2003 in collaboration with several community entities including the Greater Austin
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. In 2023, EGBI was
recognized as the No. 1 incubator in Central Texas by the Austin Business Journal and in 2024 the
incubator received the CAN Butler Award for Spirit of Collaboration and the Candid Platinum Seal for
Transparency, and Best Places to Work for Working Parents.
EGBI provides business coaching to entrepreneurs in Central Texas wanting to start and/or grow a
business. Up until 2024, our organization has provided over 4,200 hours of business coaching in
bookkeeping, sales, marketing, business planning, online presence, government contracts and similar
topics to provide traction to small business owners.
by EGBI Tech Team | Mar 20, 2018 | Community Partner Events
April 5th, 2018 from 11:30 AM- 1:00 PM – Women’s Club Creative Ways to Delight Customers
Guest speaker Crystal Matterson, President and Founder of CrystalRaven Consulting LLC will share creative ways to set your business apart by delighting your customers and turning them into Raving Fans for your business.
Crystal is an international business consultant with an MBA from the University of Dallas. She lived in Asia for ten years and consults in management, business structures, project management, operations, trade import/export, Asia sourcing and manufacturing, and digital marketing.
Registration fee is $15 and includes lunch.
This club is for our women entrepreneurs to learn from, network with and support each other. If you’d like to attend and are not a member, you will need to sign up for membership first. Find out more
HERE.
April 6th, 2018 from 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM
April 11th, 2018 from 8:00 AM- 4:15 PM – Local U sponsored by Google
Attend Local University–a full-day workshop about Internet marketing for Austin area businesses.
Featuring a presentation by Google: Learn how to use Google’s local products to acquire new customers, while also engaging and retaining existing ones. We’ll start by walking through claiming your Local Plus page, and then explore other local products.
We’re bringing in some of the leading online marketing experts for an intensive eight-hour crash course in Internet marketing that will help you navigate the possibilities for marketing your business on the web. You’ll learn Search & Social Marketing tips and techniques that will lead to sustained, long-term search engine rankings (and new customers) in your local markets and world wide. Receive a FREE review of your website.
For more details, click HERE.
April 21st, Saturday 10 AM to 1 PM
Join PeopleFund for a free credit review. Confidential and personal credit checks are available through the experts at BB&T! On Thursday, April 20th, experts from BB&T will be on site to review your personal credit and evaluate credit reports for FREE. Available in English or Spanish.
Here’s your chance to access your free credit report, notice any errors or discrepancies, and learn what you can work on to improve your credit!
Contact dbranch@peoplefund.org to reserve your spot.
April 30th, Monday 8 AM to 10 AM State of Small Business in Austin Breakfast
The City of Austin Economic Development Department will host the 5th Annual State of Small Business in Austin breakfast at the Norris Conference Center on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 8:30 to 10:00am.
As the kickoff to National Small Business Week, the program will focus on small businesses issues in Austin. Keynote speaker Rosa Rios Valdez, President and CEO of Business and Community Lenders (BCL). Ms. Valdez will discuss the role of economic development organizations to ensure equitable economic development for all small businesses (including creatives). Ms. Valdez will discuss how small businesses are dealing with affordability challenges, funding/ finance issues and trends toward social entrepreneurship. Our intention is that Austin’s civic leaders and small business partners will be able to translate this message into actionable items to prepare our entrepreneurs for upcoming opportunities.
Following the discussion, City of Austin Small Business Awards will be presented to recognize entrepreneurial excellence in our community.
RSVP HERE .
May 9th, Wednesday 9th at 9 AM to 12 PM 8 AM to 10 AM Vietnam and Southeast Asia Briefing
Join us for a briefing on Vietnam and Southeast Asia by US-ASEAN Business Council and Becamex IDC. They will present on business opportunities and resources for entrepreneurs looking to expand to Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Who should attend?
• Manufacturers
• Supply Chains Enterprises (packaging, components, parts)
• Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare
Related Industries
• High-Tech, Electrical & Home Appliances
• Electronic & Telecommunication Equipment, IT, Gaming, Software
• Food & Agri-Business (machinery, processing technology, animal feed)
• Property Developers (retail, condo, hospitality, entertainment & sports)
• Investment & Banking
Agenda
9:00 AM Registration & Networking
9:30 AM Welcome & Program
11:00 AM Q&A
11:30 AM One-on-One meetings
This event is presented by in partnership with the Global Business Expansion City of Austin Economic Development, World Affairs Council of Austin, Becamex, and US ASEAN Business Council.
RSVP HERE.
by EGBI Tech Team | Jan 3, 2018 | Success Stories
Gabriel Orozco Goes from Technician to
Proud Owner of S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair
Austin, TX: After working at S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair for more than 20 years, on January 2, 2018, Gabriel Orozco bought the business from the retiring owners, Eileen and Larry Smith.
Larry and Eileen are happy to see Gabriel take over the business that has been serving the Austin area since 1986. “We wish nothing but the best for Gabe,” said former owner, Larry Smith. The Smiths will be helping Orozco through a three-month transition period, to prevent any disruption in service as Orozco makes the transition from technician to owner.
For the last 6 months, Gabriel Orozco has consulted with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), an organization that provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners. He completed EGBI’s business workshop series and will continue to be coached by EGBI staff to sharpen his business skills through the changeover. EGBI helped Orozco qualify for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan from PeopleFund for the purchase, and connected Orozco to the University of Texas School of Law Entrepreneurship & Community Development Clinic for legal support.
Orozco looks forward to providing the same excellent service S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair clients are accustomed to. “As a longtime customer, we are excited to hear Gabriel will be taking over the business and preserving the excellent customer service he has always provided us,” said Roy Reyes at Double R Sport Imports.
About S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair: S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair has served the Austin area as the rock damage repair specialist since 1986. Their mobile service has a lifetime money-back guarantee and provides insurance deductible waivers. For more information, contact the new owner, Gabe Orozco, at 512-576-5154.
by EGBI Tech Team | Nov 7, 2017 | News & Events
by EGBI Tech Team | Oct 24, 2017 | Success Stories
Sitotaw Degefaw, EGBI’s recent graduate of the Emerging Enterprises Training Progam, wanted to open a butcher shop similar to his family’s shop in Gonder, Ethiopia. His desire was for a place where his customers could get fresh, high quality beef and also a place of community for people from East Africa that now live in the Austin area. In October, Sitotaw made his dreams come true with the opening of Salam’s International Mart & Café at 10009 North Lamar Blvd, Austin Texas 78753 (less than a mile north of Rundberg Ln).
Salam’s offers grass fed beef perfect for people who are looking for a healthier option or who delight in a raw meat cuisine. According to the American Grass Fed Beef Organization, this meat is lower in total fat than grainfed animals, lower in calories and contains extra Omega-3s, which may reduce cancer risks.
Along with his butcher shop, Salam’s has a dine-in area where visitors can enjoy traditional Ethiopian food such as Injera, Kurt, Tibs, Kitfo and Ethiopian coffee. Visitors who can’t stay to eat can pick up their favorite Ethiopian spices to prepare their own meals at home.
Sitotaw graduated from EGBI’s program in June, which propelled him forward to meet his business goals. “Taking the classes helped open my mind. I knew having enough money wasn’t enough to open a business. Studying at EGBI gave me the info to move in the right direction.” Sitotaw described how Joni Foster, EGBI’s Program Director, helped him face his many hurdles in their one-on-one coaching sessions. “She connected me to the supplier that slaughters the specialty meat according to my countries custom.” The advice Sitotaw shares with other entrepreneurs is to save money, as financing a business can be a big challenge when starting a business.
