SMBR Announces Partnership with EBGI to Empower Small, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

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.