Commissioner Hope Andrade of the Texas Workforce Commission and former Texas Secretary of State addressed business owners Thursday at the Governor’s Small Business Forum in Brownwood. Over 80 people were in attendance at the event to hear about improving small businesses in the area. Andrade along with other presenters at the event outlined resources that are available in the area to help small businesses succeed.
“Together we all share a commitment in supporting our Texas entrepreneurs and the realization of your goals and dreams,” Andrade said. “In fact, collaboration has played a big role in the many successes that Texas can point to over the last several years.”Andrade said that Texas as a whole has prospered economically in recent years while many other states have struggled, helping to boost business.
“While the rest of the nation has been in a recovery mode, we in Texas have been in a period of economic expansion,” she said. “Texas saw jobs added every month in fiscal year 2012, and this economic growth has brought new demands for workers with a variety of skills.”
She outlined several programs offered by the Texas Workforce Commission that helps to train workers to meet this growing demand.
Other presenters at the forum outlined small business resources that are available in the area to help them start, grow and expand. Andrade said that she used many of the same resources when she opened a business for the first time thirty years ago.
“You just have to take advantage of all of the resources available,” Andrade said. “We want to make sure that you feel that you are appreciated and that there are resources available.”
She said that many businesses are not aware of the resources available to them and events like the Governor’s Small Business Forums are designed to raise that awareness.
“Our state’s leadership continues to put great effort into ensuring that you as entrepreneurs have access to the tools that you need to successfully start, steadily nurture, and eventually expand your businesses right here at home,” Andrade said.
Other small business resources and programs were outlined during the event from Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas, the Governor’s Office, Texas Department of Agriculture, Tarleton Small Business Development Center, USDA Rural Development, Brownwood and Early Economic Development Corporations, Council Finance, Inc., Brownwood Industrial Foundation and the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
More information about local small business resources can be found online at BrownwoodBusiness.com or at the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 325-646-9535.
Pictured at top is Commissioner Andrade speaking at the event Thursday at Howard Payne University.
