[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6487413,"mediaKeyId","5610155-81a8627e076ba005615c632d676cd973","parentId",5610155,"title","Houston OBO unveils MWSBE policy changes after disparity study; new tools aim to boost small firms","audioSeconds",402,"startMs",2562000,"endMs",2964000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610155-81a8627e076ba005615c632d676cd973&start=2562&end=2964","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610155-81a8627e076ba005615c632d676cd973/thumbnail_2562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6487413/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-OBO-unveils-MWSBE-policy-changes-after-disparity-study-new-tools-aim-to-boost-small-firms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487413-d2ab680717e1e9f3be64e9362b30bf9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770544736&Signature=kdTgGihYzT6jFOaia3cPSav2q8FXsqeeWlAHkkoMDH17UvsEQu6hxDqzoazpm-o1~PMDqKim4oTnPUNp04EKLDY0zRi2iyJsaN6~63GraCpPrLQ75PXc7WeDPjsexprtlzDjUzz-26-sLSUIsIrB-WrdO7ImquHbRhBoWJPmmCWNOiPXGDc9diF-E61ygrZQwmyMVRUb4wHqe-2IKbBTtX3lAjy2DkUljYd~JL-0e8GzmjbrMUJQHiYsrVrviseNFYL~agriAWq4lF~TKr~BKfBh9ibpRE6T3gPrnb1SAOz6FOLSAT4rMYKgaC7LOamtM9t3eMl4LnpLXje~izm27A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-08-20T00:00:00Z","article","Silinthia Hoard, director of the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), presented proposed policy changes informed by a recent disparity study and a rollout schedule aimed at increasing participation by minority‑owned, women‑owned and small businesses in city contracting.

Hoard said the city currently lists about 3,644 MBE firms, 2,145 WBE firms, 142 PDBE firms and 71 LGBTBE firms in its certification directory, and that the active directory stands at roughly 5,100 firms after a recent cleanup. “In FY '25, the city awarded over $500,000,000 to our minority firms and our women firms here in Houston,” Hoard told the committee.

OBO described its study (conducted by MGT Consulting, using FY2018–FY2022 data) as covering construction procurement, professional services, goods and services, and inclusion of DBE/ACDB programs. The office said it used a nine‑county market area for availability measures and that consultants recommended an availability‑based, aspirational goal approach where certain groups showed no statistical disparity but the city still sets participation caps aligned with market availability.

Hoard presented specific proposed caps that mirror the study’s market‑availability tables: for example, a Hispanic construction cap at roughly 16% and professional‑services caps for Asian Americans and Hispanics at about 6% and 7%, respectively. OBO said groups with demonstrated disparity will retain full participation targets. Hoard explained that the availability‑based approach is intended to be “narrowly tailored” and defensible under relevant case law (she cited Croson and a 2016 case, referenced in the presentation).

To address the community’s feedback and operational barriers, OBO proposed several new or expanded programs: a Small Business Reserve (SBR) that would allow departments to reserve up to 20% of procurement dollars for certified small firms within a contract‑value band (being evaluated at $100,000–$500,000); a citywide small‑contractor rotation program to let small firms act as primes on recurring contract types; an expanded SBE certification rollout (MBE/WBE firms automatically migrated to SBE counting beginning Jan. 1); a veteran/disabled‑veteran certification tied to SBA credentials; a mentor‑protégé program with private‑sector partners; a financing expo and relationship‑building events with banks, CDFIs and bonding agents; and a “meet the primes/subs” pilot to improve subcontractor‑prime connections.

Hoard said OBO will add an awards dashboard and enhanced data tracking on its website and will continue quarterly and annual reporting on participation and awards. The program rollout timeline calls for policy finalization in September, intensive departmental trainings this fall (starting with Houston Public Works), stakeholder outreach through December, and a target implementation date in January.

Council members praised the outreach and asked for additional data. Council Member Ramirez requested the underlying appendices and award tables that support the proposed caps; Hoard said she would provide the specific appendix and tables from the MGT report and the quarterly/annual awards report. Council Member Davis committed to help organize a financing symposium (October) to connect small firms with banks and bonding resources. Several members emphasized retaining the program amid litigation challenging the city’s MBE program; Hoard said the study provides current statistical evidence to support the program as the city awaits a court date.

No formal changes to ordinance language were adopted at the committee meeting; Hoard said some policy items can be adjusted after rollout, but changes to the city ordinance would require a different process and more time.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Economic Development Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Director Silinthia Hoard outlined recommendations from the city’s disparity study, proposed aspirational participation caps based on market availability, and announced new programs (small business reserve, mentor‑protégé, financing expo) intended to increase participation by minority, women and small businesses.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6487418,"Houston staff outline $205 million proposed TIRZ budget, say implementation can take years",380,116000,496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5610155-81a8627e076ba005615c632d676cd973&start=116&end=496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5610155-81a8627e076ba005615c632d676cd973/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6487418/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-staff-outline-205-million-proposed-TIRZ-budget-say-implementation-can-take-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6487418-af6a44b6c460203704899d8f891b49c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770544736&Signature=b0JccBXQ8FUD5fr~FVhWk87WqLVJvo46Fz94x4af~8XOn5JDoYk77hE0HdiVereBPK2h3paR6zIZD~UOVk~LAUADLtP7uod2IJ67iLpH8ewZ1sJ3zwq6Hm-VRUzgGcEk2j7mGrW8p0zBzykmykIHWv9AtVpoq2FJZOqzcv6RoF1rJCwyi8y6Y2rDObYAKAD~N41~gJ0bMrlzakPuu4bswcaeSlXC0lT9IQnCkLVOA6HMGBg0oBF-psVQ~MsYUYQ74DIm254rG53qZyh7euJI1vkmE77mZqscB8QxYNep~hr9xmigXhqnWEVY7t2eGQ1Kj3yZGJxU4RcOytYfc0iuoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Director Jennifer Curley of the mayor’s Office of Economic Development presented the proposed fiscal 2026 Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone budget and the schedule for sending TIRZ (tax increment reinvestment zone) budgets to City Council, saying the current FY2026 submission totals about $205,000,000.

Curley told the committee: “Tax increment reinvestment zones are authorized by Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code.” She outlined the development process for TIRZ projects, which includes study and coordination with Houston Public Works, meetings with district council members and a multi‑step design-review (30%, 60%–90%, 100%) before bidding and construction, which she described as “typically… about a 2 year process.”

The TIRZ program, Curley said, comprises 28 zones created by the city (27 active) and has financial partnerships with Harris County, Houston Independent School District, Spring ISD, Aldine ISD, Houston Community College and Lone Star College. She said Harris County has recently begun participating in several zones and renewed an interlocal agreement with the Downtown TIRZ through 2043; that interlocal for downtown had an earlier term that ends Dec. 31, 2025.

Curley presented line‑item allocations in the FY2026 proposal: about $96,500,000 for street projects, $44,600,000 for flood remediation, $22,600,000 for pedestrian infrastructure, and roughly $21,000,000 for parks and green‑space projects. She said the five‑year total for all TIRZ projects in the plan is approximately $936,300,000.

Council members pressed Curley on several implementation issues. Council Member Castillo asked whether TIRZ dollars can pay for public facilities or affordable housing; Curley replied that those expenditures must be included in a zone’s project plan and that Chapter 311 requires a project plan and a reinvestment financing plan before a TIRZ may spend. “If a TIRZ does not have affordable housing in its project plan, it cannot contribute any dollars to affordable housing,” she said.

Council Member Flickinger asked about annexations and extensions; Curley said the program currently has a 25% cap on annexation (by value) and teams evaluate requests by whether the added taxable value is right‑of‑way or taxable property and by project priority. Curley said extensions lengthen the zone’s ability to capture increment over time and must be justified by planned projects over the extended term.

Council Member Martinez asked how often zones request additional bonding capacity for large projects. Curley said it varies by zone and project; she estimated “maybe 1 or 2 a year” requests across different zones and said economic development evaluates available capacity and requires a project list and financial-advisor analyses before granting additional bonding authority.

On streamlining, Curley acknowledged council concerns about long schedules where right‑of‑way acquisition or property purchases slow projects. “When you have to acquire that property for projects, it does take a—it's not unusual,” she said, adding the office is working with Houston Public Works and consultants to coach engineers and try to move projects faster where possible.

Council Member Alcorn asked whether Curley’s office was involved in an Ernst & Young review of TIRZ spending. Curley said she had not been directly involved but would follow up with the finance department; she noted the city auditor already publishes detailed spending reports in the TIRZ audit and said she would help secure any Ernst & Young updates the committee requests.

Public comment during the meeting included one resident who urged the committee to consider distributing TIRZ dollars more broadly across the city before proposing new fees or tax changes.

The committee did not record formal votes on TIRZ items during the meeting; Curley said the office will offer at‑large council members meetings this year (historically they met only with district council members) and will follow up on outstanding questions about audits and specific board compositions.","Assistant Director Jennifer Curley presented the proposed 2026 Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) budget, described the project development process and schedule, and answered council questions about timelines, bond capacity, affordable-housing set‑asides and an outside Ernst & Young review.","actionData","errors"]

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Houston OBO unveils MWSBE policy changes after disparity study; new tools aim to boost small firms

Houston staff outline $205 million proposed TIRZ budget, say implementation can take years