Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Tiko Reynolds-Hausman, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Transmittal by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity of the Harris County Opportunity Fund Year 1 Report.
end
Background and Discussion:
In 2022, the Harris County Commissioners Court allocated $10.9 million in ARPA FLEX Funding to implement a revolving loan program - Harris County Opportunity Fund. On May 7, 2024, the Harris County Commissioners Court awarded PeopleFund a five-year award to provide lending services and technical assistance to eligible applicants. PeopleFund agreed to match $9 million to the program’s fund, bringing the total loan fund to $17 million.
On June 26, 2025, PFM Group Consulting, LLC was awarded a contract to provide applied research, data analysis, and other services to support a comprehensive evaluation of the revolving loan fund program under Job No. 210317. This subaward is funded through FLEX fund dollars as made available by ARPA funds.
The Harris County Opportunity Fund Year 1 annual report assesses the effectiveness of program implementation, measures the program’s impact on participating small businesses, and provides a comprehensive understanding of loan recipients' experiences and outcomes. It also provides actionable recommendations to maximize the Fund's utilization and ultimately drive economic growth across Harris County.
Expected Impact:
Acceptance of the Harris County Opportunity Fund Year 1 Report will enable the Commissioners Court, stakeholders, and community members to review a comprehensive analysis of the program and understand the value of this strategic investment in Harris County.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 3. Make our economy more inclusive.
County Strategic Plan Objective: M: Ensure that Harris County remains the best place in the region to start and grow a business, with a focus on equitable economic growth.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): J1: Address disparities in businesses’ access to capital through the Harris County Opportunity Fund.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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5/7/2024 |
213 |
Request for approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute an agreement with PeopleFund for the revolving loan fund program for the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity for the period of May 7, 2024 ‐ May 6, 2029, and for the County Clerk to execute any applicable bonds to be received (230451), Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% ‐ Minimal MWDBE Availability |
|
6/26/2025 |
86 |
Request for approval of an order authorizing the expenditure of funds in the amount of $348,975 for a comprehensive program evaluation of the Harris County Opportunity Fund, as a subaward of the agreement with PFM Group Consulting, LLC., under Job No. 21/0317. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Harris County Opportunity Fund |
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Total Existing Budget |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Funding Sources |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Total Personnel |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Tiko Reynolds-Hausman, Executive Director, Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Jie Wu, Director of Program Planning & Innovation Division, Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Bryonne Cummings, Assistant Director of Policy & Special Projects, Economic Equity & Opportunity
Attachments (if applicable): Harris County Opportunity Fund Year 1 Annual Report