Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity

06/16/2026

Do not miss the LATINA Style Business Series on June 26th. Learn how Latinas Entrepreneurs navigate through setbacks and achieve success.

Our Chief of Staff Victoria Lara will be part of the Financial Panel, sharing strategies for sustainable growth, funding, investments, and long-term financial planning.

Register now!

06/16/2026

DEEO recently attended the BAHEP Small Business Committee meeting offered a great moment to connect with regional partners and reflect on the momentum building across our small business community. The morning was spent learning, sharing, and strengthening relationships that support growth throughout Bay Area Houston.

The session opened with an engaging look at how AI can help build smarter workflows, giving organizations practical ways to integrate new tools into everyday operations. Conversations throughout the morning highlighted the value of collaboration and the shared commitment to supporting local businesses.

Looking back, the meeting underscored how innovation and partnership continue shaping the future of our region’s small business ecosystem. For anyone interested in exploring AI innovation or small business support, there’s plenty of exciting progress ahead.

06/12/2026

On April 1, 2026, DEEO launched the Early Childhood Working Groups. These groups, comprised of child care providers, non-profit leaders, and other early learning stakeholders, set out to tackle some of the most complex issues in early childhood: workforce development, quality & access, and cross-sector partnerships. Through a series of full group convenings and Steering Committee meetings, the working groups will elevate community- and program-level opportunities within the local early childhood ecosystem.

Based on these findings, DEEO will present a Transition Plan with recommendations to sustain and strengthen the ecosystem following the anticipated sunset of the ARPA-funded Early Childhood Portfolio in 2026.

DEEO is committed to supporting Harris County’s working families, child care business owners, and youngest residents.

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

Our partners at PeopleFund will be hosting this exciting in-person speed networking event for entrepreneurs and small business owners sponsored by SouthState Bank! This event will be focused on “Access to Capital and Bidding on Contracts”.

Harris County DEEO, City of Houston, Port of Houston, METRO, Cogency, and SouthState Bank will be in attendance to share available resources, programs, and opportunities to grow and maximize your business, plus, food and drinks will be provided!

Register here: https://bit.ly/4u99JGh

06/10/2026

We’re proud to share the strong engagement from this our Harris County Small Business Networking Event last month.

Attendees represented a wide range of industries including engineering and design, construction, professional services, specialty trades, technology, and more demonstrating the depth and diversity of our local business community. We also saw broad representation across certifications such as MBE, SBE, HUB, DBE, WBE, VOSB, and SDVOSB, along with firms actively working toward certification.

This turnout underscores the readiness of small businesses across Harris County to engage in upcoming opportunities within our infrastructure portfolio.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Harris County Engineering Department, Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Toll Road Authority, and the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity for their collaboration in making this event possible.

For additional resources, upcoming workshops, and future engagement opportunities, visit deeo.harriscountytx.gov/evevents and stay tuned for more ways to connect with Harris County and grow your business.

06/09/2026

Harris County DEEO was proud to join Harris County Purchasing and Precinct 2 for the Prime–Subcontractor Speed Networking Forum—an event designed to strengthen connections, expand opportunities, and support the success of our local business community.

This forum brought together prime contractors, subcontractors, and small businesses for an evening of purposeful engagement. Vendors had the opportunity to meet directly with industry leaders, learn about upcoming contracting opportunities, and access resources that help them navigate doing business with Harris County.

Participants walked away with valuable insight into County procurement processes, stronger supplier relationships, and tools to better position their firms for future growth and competitiveness.

A sincere thank you to Precinct 2, Harris County Purchasing, and all participating businesses for helping advance collaboration and economic opportunity. Together, we continue to build a more connected, inclusive, and competitive vendor community across Harris County.

06/04/2026

Summer is here and so are new opportunities for small businesses across Harris County.

Whether you’re looking to grow, connect, or learn how to do business with the County, we have a full lineup of events to support your success.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming Countywide Town Hall, a major opportunity to meet with infrastructure offices, DEEO, the Purchasing Office, labor leaders, and our construction industry partners all in one place. More details coming soon.

Explore all upcoming events at deeo.harriscountytx.gov/events, and follow us on social to stay connected.

Special thank you to Salty Monkey Productions Media for capturing this great moment from our presentation at the Greater Houston Procurement Forum.

06/02/2026

Our team continues to strengthen relationships with organizations dedicated to advancing Economic Development. Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting with the American Turkic Business Council (ATBC) to explore future collaboration opportunities including a Lunch & Learn session and potential DEEO participation in their 8th Annual Real Estate and Construction Summit this fall. Stay tuned for updates as these plans come to life on our events calendar.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the ATBC President for gifting us a beautiful Cini plate. In the Turkic world, a decorative “cini” or Iznik plate is a prestigious diplomatic and corporate gift, symbolizing respect and cultural appreciation. These hand-painted pieces often feature traditional tulips, geometric motifs, or the Tree of Life and are presented during meetings as a gesture of goodwill.

For those unfamiliar with ATBC:
Established in 2005 and headquartered in Houston, ATBC is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to strengthening bilateral trade and investment between the United States and Turkic countries. Through partnerships, advocacy, and regional representation across multiple states, ATBC connects companies and fosters opportunities that expand economic growth and international collaboration.
We look forward to the meaningful work ahead and are grateful for ATBC’s warm welcome and partnership.

05/28/2026

The Harris County Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO) was proud to participate in the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum (GHBPF) at the ION Houston, themed “Doing Business with Harris County.”

The forum brought together small businesses, contractors, chambers, and community partners for a focused conversation on upcoming County projects, procurement opportunities, and the future of supplier diversity in our region.

County leaders shared updates on procurement access, infrastructure planning, community investment, and major opportunities ahead including FIFA World Cup preparations and broader regional growth efforts.

Congratulations to GHBPF on receiving a proclamation recognizing its longstanding work to strengthen partnerships and expand equitable access to opportunity across Greater Houston.

Thank you to GHBPF and all presenters, partners, and attendees for supporting small business growth, economic inclusion, and a stronger Harris County.