2 min read November 2023 — As the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, the need for more business support services and advocacy has followed suit. And with the metroplex’s recognition of being one of the nation’s top places for minority-owned businesses and startups, business organizations, like chambers of commerce, are working tirelessly to provide the support needed. Invest: spoke with some of the leaders of these chambers about all they are doing to support DFW’s minority-owned business community.
Harrison Blair, President & CEO, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
What are some of the projects or initiatives you are excited to push forward for the Chamber?
“We have been working on a guaranteed pool fund for three years. This fund is basically big corporations, and municipalities, like Dallas County, that believe racism is a public health crisis. We want them to invest in a pool fund, which won’t go directly to businesses but the guarantee can be used to make sure that banks see these businesses as less of a credit risk. When they walk into the bank, they have a guarantor already signed off for the amount that they may need. That’s a big initiative that we’re very excited to push forward.
We also pledge that wherever we decide to make a project happen, we’re going to go talk to the community. I want to know what they want to use. We need to know, of course, what will make a profit, but what will they use? How will it impact their community? And who can we bring in? Those are the questions we want to discuss with communities.”
Urmil Shah, Chairman, Asian Chamber of Texas
What have been some of the biggest priorities for the Chamber over the past year?
“Our main priority has been addressing new and unfolding government policies. There are a few proposals being discussed that tend to skew negatively against businesses of Asian descent, particularly Chinese. One of these is SB147, which prevents Chinese nationals from purchasing property in Texas, preventing them from owning their own building if they want to start a business. We have been working with legislators to modify the language so that legal residents are allowed to make the purchase.
The majority of 2023 has been focused on house bills that are still under review. We are taking advantage of our right to prevent them from moving forward so they do not negatively impact the Asian community. I think the region is still conducive to new business but we do not agree with passing legislation that promotes hate against Asians under the guise of security. We are trying to ensure these kinds of ideals do not persist.”
Michelle Green-Ford, President & CEO, Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
How do you expect the Chamber to navigate the current time period and even help lead the area?
“The obstacles have increased. One of the ways the Chamber is helping is by trying to be that voice that helps people become aware of the climate, particularly the business climate, as soon as possible. If we see things changing, such as interest rates or the labor market, we want to be able to communicate those to our members and address those developments. One of the real strengths of our Chamber is that we’re small in staff and our board is very much a working board, which makes us very agile. As we see things developing, we usually will educate and implement changes immediately to help our business owners. If we see there are issues around funding or interest rates, for example, we start to look at how we can bring them to our members quickly so they can start to deal with them. The climate that we’re in calls for immediate action.
The other part has to do with education, being aware and providing options. When you start to look at the number of things there are to overcome not just one obstacle but five obstacles, you’ll find that people get discouraged. We’re that arm that tries to show that there’s a path, a way forward. If one way doesn’t work, what about this way? We’ve worked with strategies to help keep the optimism going. We also work with mentoring. One of our strengths is that we have on staff, as well as on the board, people who are in the same situation as our current business owners or who have navigated the same climate or types of climates for many years. They serve as role models for others. I often share my experiences. I had 18 years of small-business ownership. I started in this region and worked through the Chamber, so I can share those experiences I had and those things I did to overcome the challenges. In many cases, the contacts and individuals who assisted me are still available. We use our resources, we use our connections, we use the information and we make sure people know that there’s a great deal of support for them in the community.”
Rick Ortiz, President & CEO, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
How is the Chamber doing advocacy work to support its mission across the public-private and nonprofit sectors?
“Our success stems from the collaborative efforts and partnerships we establish with various organizations and stakeholders. Advocacy plays a crucial role in our work and we actively engage with the city of Dallas and numerous partners to ensure that the participation numbers of small businesses remain aligned with their stated goals and aspirations. Our dedication to advocacy extends beyond the local level. We actively pursue regional opportunities, such as our involvement with the prestigious DFW Airport.
One essential program that has had a significant impact on small businesses is the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. This program serves as a key catalyst in helping these businesses build their capacity by providing access to projects across the state of Texas.
Furthermore, as Texas operates on a legislative schedule that occurs every other year, with 2023 being a legislative year, we have strategically developed our legislative agenda. To ensure effective representation and advocacy, we collaborate closely with the Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Coalition, a prominent group composed of various Hispanic chambers from across the state, including the notable San Antonio Chamber. This collaborative effort allows us to stay well-informed and involved in key legislative matters that directly impact the businesses we serve. For example, Bills like 5140, which posed a threat to minority businesses by potentially excluding them from the HUB program, was successfully opposed. By actively engaging with legislators, we not only inform them about the potential consequences of such bills but also facilitate opportunities for business owners to share their stories, allowing legislators to witness firsthand the positive impact these businesses have on our communities.”
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