Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
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
Request for approval to sponsor the 2025 Diversity in Business Awards Luncheon hosted by Houston Business Journal on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, at the Executive Table level for a total cost of $3,500.00.
end
Background and Discussion:
The 2025 Diversity in Business Award Luncheon is a premier event for the Houston Business Journal. The Houston Business Journal’s Diversity in Business Awards program will honor the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO) and other organizations and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity in the workplace.
Expected Impact:
This event will provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate DEEO’s work in the community and connect with a diverse audience of businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Attending and sponsoring the 2025 Diversity in Business Awards Luncheon will allow DEEO to promote the programs and services it offers to Harris County while celebrating the contributions of its staff.
Alternative Options:
Commissioners Court can choose not to approve this sponsorship; failure to approve it will impact DEEO’s ability to celebrate this achievement with colleagues and partners.
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): J3: Strengthen enabling support and processes for MWBE programming.
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: The sponsorship is not directly tied to a strategic plan goal or initiative but it does allow the DEEO to celebrate its progress made towards the selected initiative from above.
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable): Hilton Americas 1600 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Executive Office |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$3500 |
$3500 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$3500 |
$3500 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$3500 |
$3500 |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 3/27/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 3/26/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director, Economic Equity and Opportunity
Michael Espinoza, Chief Program Officer, Economic Equity and Opportunity
Attachments (if applicable): 2025 Diversity in Business Honoree Packet