Katy Area Business Opportunity Center aims to assist Katy area minority-owned and women-owned businesses

A website dedicated to highlighting and providing assistance to Katy area minority-owned and women-owned businesses was recently launched by the Katy Area Economic Development Council. The newly created website can be found at katyareabusinessopportunitycenter.com.

Organized by the Katy Area Economic Development Council’s Diversity Committee, the website provides a Minority and Women's Business Directory for businesses located in the zip codes that include and touch Katy and Cy-Fair ISD areas. It also aims to advance the mission and vision of the committee in areas including but not limited to helping minority and women's businesses seek and obtain HUB (Historically and Underutilized Business) and other supplier diversity procurement and purchasing certifications. The site also includes links to public and private procurement and purchasing entities, procurement assistance organizations, procurement and financial resource programs, relevant news and an events calendar.

The Katy Area Business Opportunity Center currently features over 2,000 businesses. Interested businesses are encouraged to join the directory free of charge. Businesses listed may also take advantage of the many listing options and features available through the center. Businesses must be minority-owned or women-owned to become a member of the directory. The following business categories will be considered for participation:

• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
• Women's Business Enterprise (WBE)
• Person's With Disabilities Enterprise (PWDE)
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE)
• Service-Disabled Veterans Certified (SDVC)
• Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
• Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE)

“We want to encourage companies to claim their listing on the site, and we are excited to offer this resource free of charge," said Karla DeCuir, Diversity Committee Chair. "Katy Area EDC will continue its efforts to diversify the business community in Katy and surrounding areas.”

For more information visit katyareabusinessopportunitycenter.com or email info@KBOC.org.