While shoppers eye Black Friday deals hoping to save big, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones is encouraging residents to think local—and to think small.
Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, urges shoppers to patronize local businesses for holiday gift-buying. Commissioner Briones is taking that day a step further and – in a commitment to supporting local small businesses year-round – is connecting business owners and entrepreneurs to valuable resources.
“When we support small businesses, we are helping our neighbors buy their children’s school supplies, restock their groceries, and pay their bills,” Commissioner Briones said. “More than 61 million Americans are employed through small businesses – that is 46 percent of the U.S. workforce. So, when local businesses thrive, we all thrive, and when they struggle, we all struggle.”
Commissioner Briones is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE Houston, and the Small Business Development Center to host two free workshops where representatives will be on site to answer questions about SBA loans and provide information about other community resources.
Additionally, Commissioner Briones is proud to support Harris Hub for Small Businesses. Harris Hub provides eligible small businesses within Harris County with free assistance on a wide range of needs – from finances, grant applications, and legal services, to creating a logo, social media and marketing, and more. Eligible small businesses can apply for a $5,000 working capital grant.
In 2024, Harris County small businesses can also apply for loans through the Revolving Loan Fund. The microloans will range from $5,000 to $50,000, and growth loans will range between $100,000 to $250,000.
“Programs like these help ensure small business owners have equitable access to capital,” Briones said. “Small businesses are the heart of our local economy, and my team and I will continue working to provide the tools they need to thrive.”