Editor's note: a news release from the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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El Paso, TX - For the last six years, the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, through its Entrepreneurial Technical Assistance Center, has assisted eligible area small businesses in the packaging of applications submitted for State HUB Certification. As of January 2009, your El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be able to certify area minority and women owned businesses for State HUB Certification.

“Currently about 400 businesses in El Paso area are certified as HUBs. The certification agreement we are establishing with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce signifies our continued support commitment to reach out and certify as many eligible businesses as possible. This certification agreement will ease the burden of business owners who submit relatively the same information to the Comptroller’s office and to the Chamber,” said Paul Gibson, Statewide HUB Program Manager, Texas Procurement and Support Services (TPASS), State Comptroller’s.

"Historically Underutilized Business," (HUB), is an entity with its principal place of business in Texas, and is at least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American and/or American woman who reside in Texas and have a proportionate interest and demonstrate active participation in the control, operations and management of the entity's affairs.

In accordance with Texas Administrative Code §111.13, each state agency shall make a good faith effort to utilize HUBs in contracts for construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodities purchases.

The Statewide HUB Program provides HUB certification for minority and woman-owned businesses in the State of Texas. Vendors seeking certification as a HUB are required to submit a completed HUB certification application and supporting documentation, affirming under penalty of perjury that their business qualifies as a HUB.

Originally, the role of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneurial Technical Assistance (ETA) Center, like all other El Paso small businesses resources, was limited to assisting with the packaging of applications, until now.

“This is a great way to commence the New Year. Now, we have the opportunity to certify our borderland businesses that are eligible for HUB Certification right out of our office. By being a State HUB Certification entity, we will be able to not only aid local businesses seeking to expand their entrepreneurial horizons but be the agent that can grant them their certificate for becoming HUB Certified. This is very exciting!” said Cindy Ramos-Davidson, Chief Executive Office of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In an effort to maximize the number of certified HUBs, the Texas Procurement And Support Services (TPASS) pursues certification agreements with local governments and nonprofit organizations in Texas. These organizations are authorized to certify eligible businesses for HUB certification as defined by TPASS.
The current entities with a TPASS Certification Agreement which are able to certify HUB eligible small businesses in the State of Texas are as follows:

-- Central & South Texas Minority Business Council
-- City of Houston
-- Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Dev. Council
-- Houston Minority Business Council
-- South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency
-- Texas Department of Transportation
-- Women's Business Council - Southwest
-- Women's Business Enterprise Alliance

“I am extremely delighted with the State Comptroller’s office in establishing this particular Memorandum of Agreement with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to Cindy Ramos-Davidson and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber staff for their dedication in taking the lead in certifying Texas businesses as a HUB. This not only will help the Small Business Community of El Paso but others in West Texas,” said Bubba Sedeno, Texas Tech Manager for HUB Operations.

As of January 2009, The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce it inclusion to the list of certifying entities. Under agreement with the Texas Procurement and Support Services office (TPASS), your El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will now be recognized as the newest certifying entity headquartered west of I-35.

“Cindy Ramos-Davidson, Executive Director of the Chamber and her staff have been great to work with in the pursuit of this agreement. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Chamber to certify as many businesses as possible in El Paso area,” added Gibson.

Minority and women owned business can now become HUB certified in El Paso. For more information, please contact your El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 566-4066.