Community Connections: HCC & Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program build successful businesses and job growth
May 7, 2015
Houston Community College is proud to host the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program (GS10ksb). HCC is one of only 12 community colleges across the country to offer the program designed to help small businesses grow in revenue and personnel. This program is funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation and is free of charge to the small business owner. To date, HCC has graduated 330 business owners and 69 percent have seen their business revenue grow.
Since the GS10ksb program started at HCC in 2011, 21 alumni businesses in District 1 have grown 23 percent in revenue and increased employee count by 23 percent. These 21 businesses currently have more than $67 million in revenues and employ 529 people.
The success of some of these business owners has been highlighted across the Houston area. Debra Schindler-Boultingouse, owner of Genesis Telecom received the Houston Business Journal’s Ranking as the “2014 Fastest-Growing Women-owned Business” by revenue growth. And the preceding year, at the Governor’s Small Business Forum Awards, the Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce awarded Debra “Woman in Business of the Year.”
“We exceeded our first full-year business plan number, added significant volume to the company and created another way to reach customers through a revised website and social media,” said Schindler-Boultingouse. “With that business plan, we hired 14 new full-time people.”
Julie Irvin of Keystone Resources received the Houston Business Journal “2012 and 2013 Largest Houston-area Advertising Agency” award. She credits her success to GS10ksb.
“I added three team members, expanded our business to 4,000-square feet and consistently hit over $1 million dollars in revenue the last three years,” said Irvin. “The fellow businesses in my cohort have become my friends, clients and peers. “
Reid Middlebrooks of Apollo BBC was featured as the cover story in the January 2014 Small Business Today Magazine. He says the program changed his life for the better and he would do it all over again.
“The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program was a turning point for me, both personally and professionally.” said Middlebrooks. “My business has changed from an unsustainable me-centered model to one that has serious growth potential.”
These business owners are making our district and our city vibrant and successful.
For more information on the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, visit hccs.edu/10ksb.