Empowering small businesses to thrive in Austin’s economy
by delivering premier customized service.

 

About Small Business Strong

The City of Austin, led by Austin Small and Minority Business Resources (ASMBR) in partnership with Austin Economic Development and Austin Financial Services, is conducting outreach to gather input from business leaders, advocates and stakeholder organizations to strengthen how the City supports small businesses across Austin.

 

This effort begins by listening to organizations and leaders who work closely with business owners every day. We want to hear what’s working, where challenges remain, and what improvements would be most meaningful to help small businesses compete, grow, and succeed.

 

Community Benefits

Austin’s small business ecosystem thrives when City resources are practical, easy to navigate, and responsive to real-world needs. By participating, you help improve access to opportunities, identify and reduce unclear or burdensome processes, strengthen connections to procurement, and support training that sets small businesses up for success.

 

City Support for Small Businesses

Supporting small businesses is a shared effort across the City. In addition to ASMBR’s procurement program, Austin’s small business support ecosystem includes:

  • Austin Economic Development - Small Business Division, which offers support services, coaching, and classes for entrepreneurs
  • Austin Financial Services, which provides vendor education through its Vendor Academy programming
  • Together, these resources reflect the City’s commitment to helping Austin businesses participate and succeed.

 

Engagement Objectives

The objectives guiding this engagement include:

  • Sharing a clear “state of the program” and current City resources available to small businesses
  • Listening to business leaders and advocates about current needs and barriers
  • Identifying practical opportunities to improve communication, processes, and support
  • Strengthening coordination across departments to better serve the Austin business community
  • Using input to inform future program enhancements and resource alignment

 

What We’re Asking For

We welcome feedback on topics such as:

  • What is working well today for small businesses and certified firms
  • Where businesses experience the biggest challenges (readiness, process steps, timelines, communication, compliance, etc.)
  • What tools, training, or support would make City opportunities more accessible
  • What the City should continue doing, improve, or simplify
  • What groups and business leaders the City should be engaging with next

 

How Input Will Be Gathered

ASMBR is convening surveys, virtual briefings and listening sessions with stakeholder groups, including:

  • Diversity and Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA)
  • Industry and construction associations
  • Inclusive Procurement Working Group (IPWG)
  • Business leaders and community members
  • City advisory bodies, including the Minority Advisory Committee and Construction Advisory Committee (regular agenda items)

 

What Happens Next

After receiving input, this outreach engement will include a summary of key inputs and feedback to share with City leadership, and follow-up conversations as needed to further explore recommended improvements.

 

Contact

For more information or to share input, contact email Small and Minority Business Resources at smbroutreach@austintexas.gov.

Share Your Input!

Austin Small and Minority Business Resources (ASMBR) is gathering feedback from business leaders, advocates, and community stakeholders to strengthen the City’s support and resources for small businesses. Your input helps us identify what’s working today, where barriers remain, and what practical improvements would be most meaningful for Austin’s business community.

Question title

Which best describes you? (Select one)

Poll question: Which best describes you? (Select one). Select one or more options.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

If you are a business owner/operator: How many years have you been in business? (Select one)

Poll question: If you are a business owner/operator: How many years have you been in business? (Select one). Select one option.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

Which best describes your primary industry? (Select one)

Poll question: Which best describes your primary industry? (Select one). Select one option.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

In the last 12 months, have you submitted a bid or proposal for City of Austin opportunities?

Poll question: In the last 12 months, have you submitted a bid or proposal for City of Austin opportunities?. Select one option.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

How many bids (or responses) have you submitted for City of Austin opportunities? (Select one)

Poll question: How many bids (or responses) have you submitted for City of Austin opportunities? (Select one). Select one option.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

What are the main reasons you have not submitted a bid or proposal? (Select all that apply)

Poll question: What are the main reasons you have not submitted a bid or proposal? (Select all that apply). Select one or more options.
Use Tab to navigate between options, Space or Enter to select
Click to view results

Question title

Please rate how important the following supports are for small businesses in Austin. (Select one per row)

Loading question...
live
live
Planning and Alignment

Internal coordination across Austin Small and Minority Business Resources, Austin Economic Development, and Austin Financial Services to discuss the development of a stakeholder outreach approach, timeframe, meeting schedule(s) and development of materials.

planned
planned
Stakeholder Outreach

Virtual Stakeholder Briefing and Listening Sessions (Tentative)

  • Diversity and Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA)
  • Interdepartmental Policy Working Group (IPWG)
  • General Contractor Groups
  • Minority Trade Associations
  • Minority Advisory Committee (regular agenda item)
  • Construction Advisory Committee (regular agenda item)

planned
planned
Small Business Strong Roundtable (MTA)

planned
planned
Feedback and Analysis

Staff will compile and analyze feeedback from outreach meetings

  • Compiling feedback from stakeholder conversations
  • Uploading and sharing documentation to SpeakUp Austin
  • Analyzying stakeholder feedback, survey data and staff input

planned
planned
Next Steps

Next steps and final messaging of Small Business Strong Outreach

  • Refining messaging and outreach approach based on feedback
  • Confirming follow-up conversations and/or scheduling additional stakeholder sessions as needed
  • Sharing a final summary of feedback with City leadership and stakeholders

planned
planned
Implementation

To be determined