TAAACC Black Business Day

The Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, a statewide network of nearly two dozen groups,  demonstrate the value of Black-owned businesses to the Texas economy by sponsoring a Black Business Day in Austin.

It was held Tuesday, March 31 at 10 a.m. in Room E1.004 at the Texas State Capitol Auditorium.

“We have watched with alarm as state spending with Black-owned businesses continues to erode,” said TAAACC Chairman Christopher Herring. “We also know that unless legislators are made aware of the situation, the 84th Legislature will come and go without this critical concern being addressed.”

During the most recent Texas budget, Black-owned businesses were awarded contracts totaling 1.22 percent of nearly $16 billion, a significant drop in spending from the low 1.63 percent recorded in 2012.

“On Tuesday, March 31, Black business owners from across the state to witnessed the signing of the 2015 Memorandum of Cooperation,” Herring said. “The MOC commits the signing agencies to concentrated efforts to improve spending with Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs).

TAAACC works closely with legislators and agency officials to develop strategies that result in increased spending. Over the past two years, the organization has hosted professional services roundtables in venues across the state, bringing agency procurement staff, HUB coordinators and business owners together to learn about upcoming opportunities, certification and the bidding process.

“We have crisscrossed the state in an effort to increase spending,” said TAAACC past chairman Jim Wyatt. “From the PermianBasin in west Texas, to Tyler in east Texas, Fort Worth, Killeen, Houston, Dallas…we have delivered the message that increased utilization of Black-owned businesses is essential to the health of communities across the state.

“Without question, our efforts have resulted in increased awareness for state agencies and business owners.”