Resource
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Phone Number
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Web Address
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Description of Services
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Better Business Bureau
1333 West Loop South,
Suite 1200
Houston, TX 77027
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877-468-9222
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www.houston.bbb.org
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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) creates an atmosphere of trust among businesses through encouraging and supporting the best business practices, setting standards for marketplace trust, celebrating marketplace role models and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior.
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BioHouston
8030 El Rio St. Houston, TX 77054
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713-842-6188
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www.biohouston.org
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BioHouston, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] corporation founded by Houston-region academic/research institutions. They are leading a broad effort to establish the Houston region as a vigorous global competitor in life science and biotechnology commercialization. BioHouston works with the leaders of some of the greatest research institutions in the world and interacts with scientists, venture capitalists, public officials, pharmaceutical industry leaders, and the leaders of emerging biotechnology companies.
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City of Houston - One Stop Business Center
900 Bagby St.
Houston, TX 77002
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832-393-0954
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www.houstontx.gov/onestop
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The One Stop Business Center provides free information, programs and services designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs regarding city, county, state and federal regulations.
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City of Houston -
Code Enforcement Group
(Planning & Development
Division)
3300 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
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713-535-7510
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http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/planning/enforcement/index.htm
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The Code Enforcement Group of the Planning and Development Division has 300+ employees and regulates all construction within the city limits of Houston. The Code Enforcement Group enforces the city's Construction Codes for both residential and commercial construction, as well as the Houston Sign Code.
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Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau
901 Bagby, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77002
|
713-437-5200 Toll free number: 1-800-4-Houston (1-800-4-462-1266)
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www.visithoustontexas.com
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The Greater Houston Convention and Visitor's Bureau markets the region as a whole to tourists, film makers and conventions. The GHCVB also includes the Houston International Protocol Alliance, which facilitates Houston's relations with the international community in areas of diplomacy, business, culture, education, space, medicine and technology.
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Houston Airport System
16930 JFK Boulevard
Houston, TX 77032
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281-233-3000
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www.fly2houston.com
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The Houston Airport System is a three-airport system (George Bush Intercontinental, Hobby and Ellington airports) that serves more than 50 million passengers annually. Nearly every kind of aircraft are serviced at the airports in the HAS from commercial passenger, cargo and commuter planes to crop dusters and private jets.
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Houston Association of Realtors
3693 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77027
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713-629-1900
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www.har.com
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The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) is an organization of real estate professionals involved in residential and commercial sales, leasing, appraisal, property management and counseling. It is the second largest local Association/Board of Realtors in the United States.
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Houston Export Assistance Center
1919 Smith St., Suite 1026
Houston, TX 77002
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713-209-3104
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www.buyusa.gov/houston/
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The U.S. Export Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce is part of the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, an extensive network of trade specialists located throughout the world devoted to assisting U.S. companies expand their international business presence. The Export Assistance Center helps companies identify and evaluate international partners, navigate international documentation challenges, create market entry strategies and provide other export related guidance.
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Houston Minority Business Council
Three Riverway, Suite 555
Houston, TX 77056
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713-271-7805
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www.hmbc.org
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The Houston Minority Business Council exists to actively involve its members in efforts that will increase and expand business opportunities and business growth for minority business enterprises.
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Houston Technology Center
410 Pierce St.
Houston, TX 77002
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713-658-1750
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www.houstontech.org
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HTC is a nonprofit organization enabling and accelerating the growth of emerging technology companies for the purpose of creating jobs and promoting economic development in the greater Houston region.
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Houston-Galveston Area Council
3555 Timmons, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77027
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713-627-3200
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www.h-gac.com
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The Houston-Galveston Area Council is the region-wide voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning region of Texas. H-GAC's mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region's orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens. The organization provides information, region-wide plans, and services to support the region's local governments.
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SATOP - Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program
2525 Bay Area Blvd., Suite 640
Houston, TX 77058
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281-486-5535
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www.spacetechsolutions.com
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The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) strives to transfer the knowledge and technology of the space program to small businesses. Any type of small business is encouraged to submit a technical challenge to SATOP. If SATOP is able to assist, the small business is provided with up to 40 hours of FREE technical assistance from a scientist or engineer in the Space Program.
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SBDC - Small Business Development Center
2302 Fannin, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77002
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713-752-8444
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www.sbdc.uh.edu
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The SBDC offers assistance to those starting or expanding a business. The center offers services such as consulting, workshops and seminars, specialty programs, facility rental and customized training and access to the SBDC's business library.
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SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives
8701 S. Gessner, Suite 1200
Houston, TX 77074
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713-773-6565
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www.scorehouston.org
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SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide.SCORE volunteers serve as "Counselors to America's Small Business." They are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation.
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
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512-239-1000
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http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/
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Environmental permits and licenses required and issued by the state of Texas.
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Texas Online
(Information on business registrations, licenses and permits)
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N/A
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http://www.state.tx.us/portal/tol/en/bus/2
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Licenses, registrations and permitting varies by the industry and regulating agency. The state's website will provide detailed information on this topic.
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Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center - Gulf Coast
University of Houston
815 TMAC Building
Houston, TX 77204
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832-842-7043
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www.tmacgc.org
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TMAC - Gulf Coast helps grow the Gulf Coast economy by assisting small and medium sized manufacturers build successful businesses. The specialists at TMAC trive to deliver services that help manufacturers increase sales and reduce costs through company assessments, technology analysis, production planning control, product manufacturability, eliminating waste, environmental health and safety, workforce development, quality management systems and strategic management services.
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The Houston Forum
P.O. Box 66248
Houston, TX 77266-6248
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713-439-0466
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www.thehoustonforum.org
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The Houston Forum is the community platform for the nation's fourth largest city. As a non-profit educational organization, it is uniquely a Houston product created in 1979 by the business and academic leadership. The Houston Forum is totally independent and free-standing.
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The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
Rice University
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005
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713-348-3443
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www.alliance.rice.edu
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The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is Rice University's flagship initiative devoted to the support of technology entrepreneurship. The Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch over 225 new technology companies. The Rice Alliance provides a collaborative network and forum for support, education, and exchange of ideas. It also provides entrepreneurs access to the human and financial capital needed for success.
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U.S. Small Business Administration
409 3rd Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20416
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713-773-6500 Toll free number: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722)
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www.sba.gov
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The U.S. Small Business Administration is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
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Workforce Solutions
P.O. Box 22777
Houston, TX 77227-2777
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713-627-3200 Toll free number: 1-888-469-JOBS (5627)
|
www.wrksolutions.com
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Workforce Solutions provides free assistance to businesses of all sizes; they can answer questions relating to state and federal employment laws; can help companies find qualified candidates who are trained and equipped with the correct skills to fill open positions; and can also help find solutions for human resource needs. The organization matches qualified applicants with employers through the largest job matching database in the state - www.workintexas.com
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Texas Workforce Commission
Austin, Texas
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Toll free number: 1-800-832-9394
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www.workintexas.com
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Texas Workforce Commission maintains the largest job matching database in the state of Texas and it is available to both employers and job applicants at no cost (www.workintexas.com)
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http://www.twc.state.tx.us/
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Applications are currently being accepted for the Spring 2012 Class. Participants attend a cost free 9-session entrepreneurship training program (please check LBCC website below for specific class dates). Participants also commit 6-8 hours per week for out-of-class activities geared towards their business. The benefits of the program include:
