Travis County Commssioners Court
April 1, 2003
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Item 5
Number 5 is to approve proclamation recognizing April 21st, 2003 as business investment and growth day in Travis County. Whereas -- whereas business investment and growth, big in Austin is a comprehensive business development program that equips individuals with the skills to develop, manage, grow and harvest successful business ventures. Whereas big Austin, the Austin area single only source, for securing both accredited, September present neural -- entrepreneurial training and business capital. Whereas big Austin targets minorities and women with low to moderate incomes for training and financing opportunities that will enable them to achieve self sufficiency through self employment. Whereas big Austin has assisted in the start-up or expansion of nearly 700 Austin area businesses and created or retained over 220 jobs and whereas on April 21st, 2003, big Austin is holding its microbusiness of the year awards luncheon to recognize the contributions of central Texas small business owners. Now therefore be it resolved that we, the members of the Travis County Commissioners court, do here by proclaim Tuesday, April 21st, 2003 as business investment in growth dating in Texas and urge all residents of Travis County to join us in recognition the many successful individuals who operate small businesses in our community and in honoring this year's outstanding entrepreneurs. I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> hi, my name is jeanette peyton, president of big Austin, businesses invest in growth known as big Austin. We would like to invite all of you to our annual microbusiness awards luncheon, April 21st at the only.
>> south at 11:00 -- at 11:00 on April 21st. We will really honored to receive this proclamation and to -- to -- in recognition of the small businesses because as you know, in this economic downturn, the small businesses are the ones that are employing jobs while the large companies are laying off. So our job has really even been more -- our services have been more demanding and helping more businesses to start and in this last year, we have helped over 241 businesses through our entrepreneurship educational program and through our microloan program we've helped lend over 380,000 in loans. These are small loans. Our large loans go up to $35,000. But they are able to provide some equipment and working capital and be able to maybe hire someone part-time or be able to become self sufficient. So we really think this is really important, especially in this time of the year, to help the small businesses and to honor them so that they will be recognized in our community. We've had this last year, 90 jobs and -- in our local community created by the small businesses. I think that's something very -- very significant for us to be -- to be proud of. What I have here today, with me, to my right is melissa Williamson, who works as our office manager. And we have shannon who also has been helping us with putting the event together. And we have alyssa baiier, a vista volunteer, has taken a year out of her time and education to help us to work with the small businesses. So we are really glad to have her aboard as well.
>> thank you.
>> good to have you all here, any words?
>> I just want for say personally thank you for your commitment to honoring small businesses. Because of your time and commitment, such your that's we are able to continue doing this very important service. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> judge, question. I think this is particularly apropos, the article in last week's paper that talked about small business. I’m certainly not going to say any major metropolitan area can live without your big box store kind of operations that a lot of people kind of run away from. But the article was very succinct in how it really allowed people to understand how important small businesses are. I mean having -- being a small business guy for about 25 years of my life here in Austin, I really understand the importance of, you know, employing two, three, five, 10, 20 people. But the article really talked about how whenever you employ people and you create a small business, all of that money stays in this community. Versus if you are one of these large corporations, only about 13 to 15% of that money that goes to -- to whatever that operation is, a lot of times stays in this community. So it's really important, I thought it was a great article, but -- it really, you know, hit the bottom line. Insofar as how important small businesses are. So thanks for all of the work that you do.
>> thank you.
>> so a small business as define -- is defined as --
>> we are working with the microbusiness and these are five or less employees which are a lot of businesses in our community. Five or fewer employees.
>> more than five you are not a small business.
>> well, by the sba definition, small business is 500 employees. Or less. But when we break it down and we are really talking about the microbusinesses, where previously we thought the small microbusinesses with five or fewer employees were not really employing that much. Now we realize that they are one of the largest employees in our community. One thing that I wanted to say was some of the training that we do are now sectors. One of the sectors is child care. That's why I’m on the child care council. We have been able to help some of the child care businesses to not only care and take their love for their -- the children, but turn it into a business so they can make some money and have some -- some profits for their family as well.
>> very good.
>> so that's an industry that's very -- very needed in a lot of different areas to help them grow and prosper for ed commission and loans.
>> great. Education and loans.
>> this year the luncheon is on Monday instead of Tuesday.
>> yes, we did that so that the Commissioners would be able to attend. We always have it on Tuesday so you are not able to attend. We are actually to accommodate you, we hope that all of you will there be.
>> I appreciate this.
>> I told you many times if it was not on Tuesday the whole court would be there. [laughter]
>> that's right. We already have you on our list.
>> good.
>> given that we just have the -- had the other resolution about the not eating too much, I hope that you don't have a spread out there that makes us want to kind of like stay around for -- for you know an hour or so just kind of graze.
>> we will accommodate you in whichever way you choose.
>> right.
>> to have you there. [laughter]
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
Last Modified: Tuesday, April 8, 2003 1:25 PM