Fort Worth's Small Business Program: A Winning Six Months

0:00It's April 7. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Dallas News Today, your AI-powered local news. Fort Worth just dropped an update on its small business development program during a Tuesday work session. This initiative kicked off last summer after voters' next diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to dodge losing $277 million. Dollars in federal grants. The city inked 13-month deals starting September 2025 through September 2026 with the Fort Worth metropolitan black. Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, and main Fort Worth Chamber totaling around $455,000. These partners are building networks, mentoring, and guiding small businesses through city procurement bids. Early months focused on capacity building, awareness, and prepping firms for contracts. Urban leaders shared real talk. Michelle Greenford from the Black Chamber called the start scary, uncharted waters post the EI shift, with the past six.

1:00Months have been a win. Jennifer Garza from the Hispanic Chamber highlighted teaming up as a silver lining. Efforts include workshops on bonding, insurance, workforce training, certification perks, supplier assessments, and procurement index. The city launched a program web page, social media pushes, a monthly newsletter, and a new small business advisory board linking chambers and departments. The also fast-tracked 85 small business enterprise certifications via a $96,250 deal. City manager Jay Choppa, Iced 30% Small Business Participation, with hard data dropping next summer to measure the real growth.