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 of AABE bidders for County contracts in Goods, Commodities, Services, Construction Services and Professional Services
- Identified best practices that will help Bexar County build a business program to stimulate local AABE outreach, economic growth and development
- Identified and guided AABE businesses to the appropriate certification(s) needed to conduct business with government agencies
- Reinforced Bexar County’s economic development efforts toward the AABE community
UTSA’s survey will include items about capacity and business relationships within the private sector, and with local governments and public agencies such as cities, counties, special districts, public utilities, school districts, soil and water conservation districts and other entities. Potential HUB and minority businesses will be included in the 360-degree view of procurement and certification processes.
Additionally, UTSA researchers will conduct telephone interviews with AABEs in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. They will also complete GIS regional mapping to record data on firm characteristics such as business relationships with local governments and public agencies, industry, services and resources, associations and partners, certification and business capacity.
The Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP San Antonio Chapter and the Black Book Business Directory are actively supporting the Bexar County study. The results of the study will be available June 2016 after a Commissioners Court vote. Bexar County plans to publish an online directory of vendors.