Goldman Sachs Recognizes Houston Small Businesses

Published Feb 11, 2019 by Gus Forward

During a night of celebration and networking at the Greater Houston Partnership’s member mixer, Goldman Sachs recognized its 2019 class of entrepreneurial business owners seeking to improve their small businesses through the company’s continued education program.

Founded in 2010, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative is an investment program created to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, capital and business support services. To date, more than 7,300 business owners have graduated from the program across all 50 states in the US, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Research shows small businesses are the nation’s leading source of job creation and innovation, representing 28.8 million companies and 56.8 million employees. Houston is home to the seventh-largest concentration of small businesses among the nation's biggest cities, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Leading nonprofit organizations, including the Greater Houston Partnership, are contributing their knowledge and experience to help address the needs of small business owners and their communities.

Partnership President and CEO, Bob Harvey, recently noted the regional economic impact of small businesses and the Partnership’s mission to grow this entrepreneurial sector. “In order for economic prosperity to grow within the region, upward economic mobility must be nurtured in the present and future that is the Houston small business community,” he said.

“As the largest chamber of commerce and economic development organization in the region, we have a platform to champion valuable business connections among high-growth small businesses – and the services to provide professional development training and on-demand digital programming – fulfilling its mission to provide inclusive access to all.”

Late last year, the Partnership announced its big plans for Houston small businesses with the launch of Small Biz Connect, an exclusive service of benefits to its small business members with 50 or fewer global employees.

Targeted at c-suite, sales, marketing and business development professionals, members will gain access to local business opportunities, digital education programming and discounts to Partnership-hosted events.

The Partnership has several programs geared toward small business and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Small Biz Matters, Business Development and Houston Young Professional and Entrepreneurs (HYPE). The Business Development February Meeting and HYPE Explore Your Passion events are scheduled for February 15 and March 8