--- title: Port Small Business Efforts on Spotlight At Chamber Event description: Port Houston staff provided a port and small business update at the Hispanic Houston Chamber of Commerce’s December Breakfast and Business Development Forum. image: https://blog.porthouston.com/hubfs/Hispanic%20Chamber%20event-1.jpg --- - [About Us](http://porthouston.com/#) - [Overview](http://porthouston.com/about-us/) - [Background and History](http://porthouston.com/about-us/background-and-history/) - [Mission and Vision](http://porthouston.com/about-us/mission-and-vision/) - [Economic Impact](http://porthouston.com/about-us/economic-impact/) - [Statistics](http://porthouston.com/about-us/statistics/) - [Legal Disclaimer](http://porthouston.com/about-us/legal-disclaimer/) - [Leadership](http://porthouston.com/leadership/) - [The Port Commission](http://porthouston.com/leadership/the-port-commission/) - [Executive Administration](http://porthouston.com/leadership/executive-administration/) - [Public Meetings](http://porthouston.com/leadership/public-meetings/) - 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[Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)   ![Hispanic Chamber event-1.jpg](https://blog.porthouston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hispanic%20Chamber%20event-1.jpg?width=640&name=Hispanic%20Chamber%20event-1.jpg) Port Houston’s Senior Director of Small Business and Education Outreach Gilda Ramirez provided a port and small business update at the Hispanic Houston Chamber of Commerce’s December Networking Breakfast and Business Development Forum. The chamber’s annual forum event program features keynote speakers sharing current market trends and product innovations with attendees. The chamber’s president recognized the port with opening remarks. “Port Houston is the running model for growing small business programs. They do excellent engagement,” said Dr. Laura G. Murrilo, President and CEO. Ramirez highlighted the port’s significance as an economic engine for the region. “We continue to grow because tremendous investment has been and continues to be made in our ship channel region, to produce or distribute goods that are destined to be imported or exported through our port,” said Ramirez. The port’s small business development program is designed to help contractors made good faith efforts to include small business participation in a variety of contracts. This year marks the program’s 15th year of actively supporting the community’s workforce and Port Houston has reached a new milestone: providing over one half billion dollars in awards and commitments to small businesses. “The port’s education efforts also well align with our small business development efforts since job creation is such a key aspect of both,” noted Ramirez. The event was held at the Amergy Bank Building in the Houston Galleria. Topics: [ports](https://blog.porthouston.com/topic/ports?hsLang=en-us), [Houston](https://blog.porthouston.com/topic/houston?hsLang=en-us), [small businesses](https://blog.porthouston.com/topic/small-businesses?hsLang=en-us), [workforce](https://blog.porthouston.com/topic/workforce?hsLang=en-us), [business development](https://blog.porthouston.com/topic/business-development?hsLang=en-us) WELCOME TO THE PORT HOUSTON BLOG! 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