CALLING ALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS! Be sure to mark your calendar for Thursday, April 26th, 2012 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm to attend the upcoming HBDi Loan Products Seminar! Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to learn how you can grow your business and obtain flexible, low-interest rate loans for your working capital needs, equipment purchases or real estate acquisition and renovations.  The seminar will be held at the United Way of Greater Houston located at 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007 and is free to the public.

You’ll learn about the various types of loans available at HBDi ranging from $5,000 up to $5,000,000, including 90% financing for commercial real estate under the SBA 504 loan program.  Loan officers will be on hand to answer all of your questions and discuss the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, application process, credit requirements and much, much more.  Also, we will process, pre-approve and fund (within 72 hours) up to $25,000  for each completed FAST TRACK Loan Application received during the seminar.* Don’t wait!  Visit our registration page today to reserve your seat and download your FAST TRACK Loan Application here.

Please click here for additional information about the seminar and HBDi or call us at 713-845-2400.

*limited to the first 15 applicants and subject to the qualifying criteria.

In September of 2011, Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBDi) co-administrated a program with the Galveston Economic Development Partnership (GEDP) to award $2 million in disaster recovery loans to 64 Galveston-based businesses affected by Hurricane Ike.  The program provided businesses, located on Galveston Island during the storm, access to loans to help cover expenditures for operating expenses, equipment, working capital, and furniture and fixtures.  The loan proceeds were a welcomed capital infusion, and relief business owners had sought for some time.  Funding for the program was allocated by the State of Texas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Program via the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA).

Businesses – through email, the city’s website, and via television – on May 27, 2011.  In coordination with GEDP, the Baptist Ministers Association, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Galveston Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, community outreach meetings were conducted from May 31 – June 7 to further disseminate information pertaining to the parameters of the loan program.  Applications were released to the public on June 6, 2011 with the official application submission period beginning on June 13, 2011.  To round out the program’s marketing campaign, informational meetings including GEDP and HBDi staff held on June 7^th & 8^th were attended by over 100 Galveston-area businesses.  The application submission period concluded on August 8, 2011, and GEDP collected 107 applications in response to the program.

HBDi Credit Manager, Benneth Okoyeze (left) with G'Wiz Enterprises business owner, David Torkelson (center) and GEDP Program Manager, John Tindell

The Galveston City Council approved the rollout of the program on May 26, 2011 which was announced to Galveston-area

As a co-administrator for the program, HBDi was able to provide the seasoned underwriting expertise needed to evaluate the application packages and render recommendations for approval.  Upon completion of this process, the packages and recommendations were sent to the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) for final approval and disbursement.

With over 25 years of experience in supporting the expansion and development of small businesses, HBDi is able to provide low interest rate financing for working capital, equipment, furniture and fixtures, and real estate acquisition ranging from $5,000 to $5 million.  To learn more about the services of HBDi, contact a loan officer at 713.845.2400 or visit us at www.hbdi.org .

The briefing discussions, structured in a concurrent breakout session format, focused on financial resources for small businesses, marketing businesses to the state, small business certifications, and technical assistance for small business development.   As a forum exhibitor and resource partner, HBDi was available to assist business owners with assessing capital to support the growth and expansion of their businesses.  Through various loan products, HBDi is able to provide low-interest rate financing for working capital, equipment, furniture and fixtures and real estate acquisition ranging from $5,000 to $5 million.  To learn more about the services of HBDi contact a loan officer at 713.845.2400.

HBDi accomplishes its mission through providing affordable, flexible small business loans and an array of business support services designed to enhance the growth of small businesses.  As a non-bank community lending organization, HBDi has served as a catalyst in providing aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners with debt capital and access to an array of resources to start and/or expand their businesses.  Since inception, the corporation has participated in funding approximately $82 million in small business loans in Houston, resulting in nearly 2,500 jobs being created.

Click here to get the Nomination Form and Board Qualifications.  Nomination forms must be received by 4:00 p.m., April 24^th, 2012.  For more information, please contact Marlon Mitchell, President at 713-845-2418.

The Board of Directors of the Greater Sharpstown Management District and the Small Business Administration have assembled an excellent workshop for business owners of every size, industry, and experience.
If you’re looking for working capital to buy equipment or expand your business, come and learn all you can from the SBA and micro-lenders.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

10:30 a.m. Registration & Exhibitors

11-11:45 a.m. Financial Panel featuring SBA, Houston Business Development, Inc., United Central Bank, & ACCION Texas

12-1:15 p.m. Luncheon featuring Keynote Speaker Yolanda Garcia Olivarez, Regional Administrator, SBA, Region VI

There is no charge for the workshop and luncheon. Seating is limited.
RSVP to Alice Lee at alee@hhcllp.com by February 15, 2012

Sam Houston Ballroom & Conference Center

6833 W. Sam Houston Parkway S., Houston, TX 77072

(next to the Hilton Garden Inn Westbelt; 2nd floor above the Subway)

KEY NOTE SPEAKER

Yolanda Garcia Olivarez was appointed Regional Administrator for SBA’s Region VI in August 2009. As Regional Administrator, Olivarez is responsible for the delivery of
the agency’s programs in Region VI, which is headquartered in Dallas and includes Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses.

The five states of Region VI include more than 548,000 square miles. The regional office oversees district offices in Little Rock, AR; New Orleans, LA.; Albuquerque, NM; Oklahoma City, OK; Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio, TX; and a branch office in Corpus Christi, TX.

Before joining SBA, Olivarez has spent more than 35 years in the trade, commerce and financial services industries. Since 1995 she has been a senior vice president/commercial lender and business development officer at Wells Fargo Bank. She also served 12 years as a Port Commissioner for the Port of Corpus Christi, where she led public finance bond
projects for government entities on the state and federal level. Olivarez was the first woman and Hispanic to chair the commission in its 75 year history.

She has served as a member of several boards and commissions, and for her service has been recognized by several organizations including the National Museum of Mexican Art’s 2009 Sor Juana Women of Achievement Award, the Wall of Honor for Del Mar College, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Advance Selena Award. She has also been active in the March of Dimes, United Way, American Heart Association, Texas Tomorrow Fund, Costal Bend Bays and Estuaries, the Corpus Christi Community Development Housing Corporation, Christus Spohn Hospital Board and the Catholic Finance Diocese of South Texas.

Olivarez and her husband, Ronnie, are the proud parents of daughter Sofia Anna.

Moderator

Manuel R. González
District Director
SBA Houston District Office

Manuel R. Gonzalez is the District Director for the 32-county Houston District of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). He holds a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, School of Banking and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the SBA, Mr. Gonzalez held several upper management positions within the private sector.

Mr. Gonzalez is responsible for directing the activities of the Houston District Office, including supervision of a minority small business portfolio comprised of over 100 firms in the 8(a) program, administration of the University of Houston Small Business Development Center and 15 sub-centers, and coordination of two chapters of SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”

Additional Summit Speakers

Shirley Brooks

ACCION Texas – Louisiana,
Regional Director

As Regional Director, Shirley Brooks is responsible for the management and performance of the loan program in Houston and Eastern part of the State of Texas for ACCION Texas-Louisiana. Named to this position 3 years ago, she
is responsible for budget, marketing, production, delinquency, and chargeoffs for the Region’s loan portfolio.

Ms. Brooks has more than 25 years of finance and sales experience. Prior to joining ACCION Texas-Louisiana, she served as Regional Vice President for Madison Communications. She has also worked as a part of the executive sales and marketing teams for several corporations in the Houston area over the last 25 years.

Shirley Brooks attended the University of Houston where she completed her studies in Business/Finance.

Originally from Sugar Land Texas, she still lives in the community and likes to spend her free time being a mom and hanging out
with her 14 year old daughter.

Paul Cheong

United Central Bank
Senior Vice President/
Regional Manager

Paul Cheong currently serves as Senior Vice President/Regional Manager for United Central Bank in the Houston
Region. United Central Bank was founded in 1987 in Garland, Texas. The Bank currently has 29 branches located in 8 states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Virginia. Paul Cheong joined United Central Bank in 1995.

Paul Cheong received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1984, and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Finance in 1990 from both the University of Houston and University Park. Prior to joining United Central Bank, Paul Cheong worked at MD Anderson Hospital and managed the Hunan River Restaurant in the River Oaks area.

In 2006, Paul Cheong was selected by the Houston SBA District Office as Financial Service Champion of the Year. From 2009 to 2011, he served as the Chairman of the SBA Houston District Advisory Council. He also served as the 2011 President of the Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association.

Marlon Mitchell

Houston Business
Development, Inc.
President and CEO

Marlon Mitchell is the President and CEO of Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBDi) – a 501c3 non-profit agency
engaged in revitalizing neighborhoods and stimulating economic growth throughout the city of Houston. Established in 1986, HBDi provides tools vital to the expansion and growth of small businesses including access to capital and integrated support services tailored to the needs of emerging entrepreneurs. Under the leadership of Mr.Mitchell, the organization has helped to facilitate over $82 million in funding to small
businesses resulting in the creation of approximately 3,000 jobs for citizens of Houston.

Mr. Mitchell has over 27 years of combined experience in commercial lending and community development
financing, and has a broad knowledge of government lending programs and economic development tools. He holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration, and has been certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by
the National Development Council and the Council for Urban Economic Development.

Greater Sharpstown
Management Office

9788 Clarewood Dr., Suit 109
Houston, TX 77036
Office: (001) 713.271.2119
Fax: (001) 713.541.9906
www.sharpstownDistrict.com