-
February 18, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
Bexar County has partnered with UTSA to conduct research that will provide greater insight into how the county can support and strengthen African American Business Enterprises (AABEs). The UTSA study was contracted after Bexar County identified a gap in qualified AABEs that can participate in Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (SMWBE) and related contract programs in the Alamo region. The Center for Community and Business Research in the UTSA Institute for Economic Development is conducting the study, focusing on AABEs in eight counties in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson. By the end of the study, UTSA researchers will have: Identified and compiled a comprehensive list of AABEs in the Alamo region that can be used to increase the number
-
January 11, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
In 2015, an average working day for the UTSA Institute for Economic Development resulted in 137 small businesses receiving advising or training, the acquisition of $2 million in business growth capital, $8.7 million of sales/contracts/exports being realized, and the creation of over 30 new jobs. This year, the Institute achieved yet another milestone in it’s 36 year career with over $2.6 billion of direct economic impact including new financing, investments, sales, contracts, and exports, resulting in a 33% increase from last year. During the fiscal year, the Institute for Economic Development: Served 34,256 business and community clients Provided trainings and workshops to 21,339 participants Delivered 8,219 consulting cases and 76,137 research hours Helped launch 657 new businesses Helped expand 585 existing businesses Supported the creation of 8,251 new jobs and
-
November 10, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
In a new study published in The Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy, Thomas Tunstall, research director of the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, describes how regions affected by the oil boom in the Eagle Ford Shale can avoid becoming ghost towns after the revenues dry up. “There may be 1,000 or more ghost towns in Texas,” Tunstall said. “We have to figure out a way to keep the communities that are still here viable.” In his new study, Tunstall looks at several Eagle Ford Shale counties and towns whose fortunes have been made since the oil boom in the past five years. And though the area could continue producing at a high rate for years, the key to sustaining an economy in previously sleepy towns is to use that
-
October 22, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
In 35 years, America’s Small Business Development Center has grown from a small pilot program to a nationwide business education and training infrastructure with nearly 1,000 centers throughout the nation providing management and technical assistance to over a million Americans annually. Charles Tee Rowe, President of Americans SBDC said, “America’s small businesses are truly the engine of economic growth, and for 35 years, America’s SBDC has been like the spark plugs keeping the engine going.” With the assistance of SBDCs, a new business is opened every 33 minutes with a new job being created every 7 minutes. As a part of the America’s SBDC family, UTSA’s South-West Texas Border SBDC and partner affiliate Network serves a 79-county region in Texas through 10 strategically located field offices. Alpine: Sul Ross State
-
October 19, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The UTSA Institute for Economic Development MBDA Business Center, the MED Week Consortium, and the Office of the Governor are partnering to present the 2015 Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week), featuring a Governor’s Small Business Forum, October 13-16. The showcase awards luncheon will be held October 15th at the Norris Conference Center. This year’s theme is “Strengthening Tomorrow’s Workforce.” In addition to the annual awards luncheon honoring local minority small businesses and advocates, the MED Week Consortium will also be offering a business resource component. Both before and after the luncheon there will be a number of business essentials resource exhibitors present for attendees to network, gather information, and find potential resources to grow their business. Vendors include the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, Workforce Solutions Alamo, Liquid Capital
-
October 8, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The UTSA Institute of Economic Development is helping strengthen the Chilean economy. This week, Chile opened their first Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Valparaiso, Chile. The center is based on the U.S. SBDC model taught by the SBDC International Trade Center of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute for Economic Development. Those in attendance included Chilean President of the Republic, Michelle Bachelet, Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism, Luis Felipe Céspedes, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and UTSA Sr. Associate Vice President for Economic Development, Robert McKinley. UTSA leads the consulting effort to build a network of small business centers across the hemisphere for economic development and trade, on behalf of the U.S. State Department and Organization of American States. The SBDC model has evolved
-
July 20, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The Alamo Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) is a collaborative effort of several organizations from industry, academia, and government organized to assist communities that have demonstrated best practices within a specific manufacturing sector to further cultivate an environment to create well-paid manufacturing jobs and targeted industry growth. The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development (IED) is leading the partnership effort, which includes the San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA), Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Bexar County Economic Development Department, City of San Antonio Economic Development Department (SAEDD), City of Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF), Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA), the Alamo Colleges, and Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Lean Systems (CAMLS) at
-
June 12, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
According to a study conducted by the UTSA Institute for Economic Development, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF) assisted 28 companies that generated $1.1 billion in economic impact. The SAEDF report focuses on businesses that were attracted to the San Antonio area or that expanded in 2014. The companies represent a variety of industry sectors including information technology, manufacturing, distribution and energy. The information technology sector, including business process outsourcing and information security operations, demonstrated the strongest growth with over 3,000 new jobs, representing about 60 percent of all growth for the year. In 2013, manufacturing jobs accounted for the largest growth with 70 percent. “These numbers show that San Antonio’s economy is experiencing a growth trend that is dually propelled by recruitment, as well as business retention and
-
June 3, 2015 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The UTSA Small Business Development Center Rural Business Program, the Governor’s Small Business Forum, Texas Workforce Commission and the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG) will host the 6th annual Texas Rural Challenge June 15-16 at the Waco Convention Center and Hilton Waco. This year’s theme is “Rural Matters: Growing our People, Resources, and Future”. Keynote Speakers include: Lori Krieger – Owner, Taste Elevated Bryan Daniels – Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Office of the Governor Dell Gines – Sr Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Carlos Cascos – Texas Secretary of State The First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott will also be in attendance to present Governor’s Small Business Awards to 2-3 exemplary small businesses. Additional breakout sessions feature expert panelists in water,