Office of Business Opportunity
The Office of Business Opportunity is committed to cultivating a competitive and diverse economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses and developing Houston’s workforce, with special emphasis on historically underutilized businesses and disenfranchised individuals.
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COVID-19 Related Information and Updates
- Governor Abbott Announces Approval Of Emergency Designation For Small Business Disaster Loans From U.S. Small Business Administration
- If you have questions on whether a business is essential, call 832.839.6941
- COVID-19 Houston Resource Pack (.pdf)
- City of Houston COVID-19 information & updates
COVID-19 Related Resources for Small Businesses
- Small Business Community COVID-19 Resiliency Survey
- Micro Loans available through Opportunity Fund
- Small Business Development Center COVID-19 Resources for Small Businesses
- SBA Disaster Relief Program – Loan Apps
- Liftfund: COVID-19 Disaster Relief Programs
- Accelerator plans free series to help small businesses hurt by slowdown
- Emergency one-week virtual programs for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak
- SBA Disaster Relief Loans | How To Prepare
- Resources for Restaurateurs, Grocers, and Hospitality – Related Businesses
- ICIC Small Business Resource Center
- Small Business Grants Offered by Facebook
- Trufund Small Business Covid-19 Response Survey
- SBA To Provide Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans
Update Regarding Certification Workshops
We value the health and well-being of everyone who walks through our doors at the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO). In line with federal and local guidance to suspend convenings of 10 or more people, OBO is suspending the live in-person Certification workshops (typically held on Thursdays at 2:00pm) through the end of April 2020. Instead, we will offer you online Certification workshops available via the following links:
- Certification Workshop in English
- Certification Workshop in Spanish
If you have questions after you have viewed the online workshops, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 832.393.0600 (Option 1). We appreciate your patience while the City assesses the situation and we will provide you with updates.
OBO Highlights
- Exporting Service Providers Information (.pdf)
- OBO Certification – Now completely online!
- HHF Application – Now Totally Online
Certifications and Designations
Business Development
Contract Compliance and Reporting
About the Interim Director
Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed attorney and longtime city of Houston executive staff member, Marsha E. Murray, to serve as the Interim Director in the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) effective Monday, Sept. 2, 2019.
Murray is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Houston’s Legal Department. She is responsible for strategically managing its operational and administrative needs to enhance the delivery of quality legal services. More …
About OBO – In Other Languages
