Port Houston continued its popular Port University course in 2019 for small businesses with presentations from various departments about doing business with the port.

Port University, a four-week training course, is an outreach program designed to educate small businesses about procurement opportunities. The workshops are presented in collaboration with the University of Houston Small Business Development Center.

More than 50 small business representatives attended the class. They learned about port procurement opportunities, port facilities, the small business program, contracting language, bonding, insurance requirements and the port’s BuySpeed Procurement System. Since its inception in 2003, more than 800 small business owners have graduated from Port University.

Port Houston’s Small Business and Education Outreach department participates in more than 200 events every year through collaboration with various chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and private/public agency partners.

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More than 150 local small business representatives attended Port Houston’s Small Business Capital Improvement Projects and Subcontracting Opportunities Forum in 2019. Our small business development program was created in 2002 to provide opportunities for local small businesses to participate in contracting and procurement at the port.

Key goals of the program are economic development, sustainability and growth of small businesses and industry-focused workshops and events. Our small business participation rate is 39 percent since program inception with more than a half billion dollars awarded to local small businesses. Currently, there are more than 1,100 firms enrolled in the Small Business Development Program.

At the 2019 Forum, Ross Talbot, project and construction manager for Port Houston, provided an overview of upcoming construction and design projects. The workshop focused on infrastructure projects that further drive port operations. These infrastructure projects expand our facilities, so we can accommodate growth in cargo volume.

“This forum is designed to provide information to subcontractors who need the connections, knowledge and networking to get ahead and grow their business,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business education and outreach for Port Houston.

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Port Houston held a small business forum focused on doing business with the port’s maintenance services team Sept. 27.

Senior Director of Maintenance Paulo Soares shared some of the port’s best practices and procedures for procuring operations and equipment-focused contracts.

The port’s maintenance department is responsible for the purchase, support and repair of terminal equipment, docks and container yards, including major assets like ship-to-shore and rubber-tired gantry cranes.

“We practice safe and reliable maintenance work to exceed our customer’s needs,” said Soares, who noted that a good number of port contracts are awarded to small businesses.

The port also complies with safety and environmental policies, which all contractors must follow as well.

Port Houston’s small business and education outreach department was on site to provide information about other upcoming events and business opportunities. The event was held at the port's executive building. 

To get more information about Port Houston’s Small Business Program and a listing of procurement opportunities, please visit porthouston.com. 

The port’s next small business industry-specific forum will be held on Oct. 10 and will feature Port Houston’s environmental affairs team. 

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Port Houston held its semi-annual Port University workshop Oct. 11-Nov. 1. Port University, a four week training course, is an outreach program designed to educate small businesses about procurement opportunities at the port. The workshops are presented in collaboration with the University 0f Houston Small Business Development Center.

More than 30 small business representatives attended the class, where they learned about port procurement opportunities, port facilities small business program, contracting language, bonding, insurance requirements and the port’s BuySpeed Procurement System. Since inception in 2003, more than 650 small business owners have graduated from Port University.

Port Houston staff from the procurement, legal, risk management, environmental and project and construction management departments provided insight on doing business with the port.

“These staff driven workshops are a great resource for small businesses looking to find contracts and projects with the port,” said Pedro Gonzales, Port Houston Small Business Program Manager. “It provides an overview of how these businesses can be successful throughout the process.”

In addition to the course, the Port Authority offers a small business mentoring program for companies enrolled in the port’s small business program. Since the beginning of the program, awards and commitments to small businesses have totaled more than a half a billion dollars.

The Port Authority Small Business and Education Outreach department participates in roughly 200 events every year through the collaboration with various chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and private/public agency partners.

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