Changes

In 2014, The University of Houston partnered with the Houston Office of Business Opportunity to launch the first ever Build Up Houston program. Build Up Houston is Houston is a comprehensive, seven -month program designed to increase the capacity and success of small businesses aid construction companies in the construction service industry working with doing business in the City city of Houston. Build Up Houston utilizes curriculum provided by InteriseSmall business owners, a non-profit organizationnonprofit organizations, focused on helping established small and other national business owners take their companies experts developed this curriculum to help small businesses in construction develop the next level necessary skills for continual growth and success. Interise has an award-winning curriculum that was developed and refined by working hand-in-hand with small business owners the government, and national business experts. Interise has established themselves as a proven leader in educating prime these businesses for continued growth and training established business owners to grow their businessessuccess. Source: City of Houston

==ServicesActivities=====Build Up Houston===Build Up Houston is designed to combine the best The cost of classroom learning with real-world case studies, including participating in the one most important to you: your own businessprogram is $1500. Construction industry expertsThis provides enrollees with a 7 month curriculum, business peerscomprised of 42 hours of class time held every other Tuesday, and instructors provide insights, strategies, motivationCEO mentoring group time, and accountabilityother elements of program time. It’s an interactive formatPart of the curriculum includes strategic planning, where you get the toolsestimating and bidding, know-howaccess to capital, and confidence to take the next stepproject management. For a full list of program details, please see Build Up Houston will run from October 2015 until April 2016. During that time, you can expect to learn about's [http:*Business Development Strategies <br />*Strategic Planning<br />*Estimating and Bidding<br www.houstontx.gov/>*Finance and Financial Management<br builduphouston/>*Bonding and Insurance| class description page]. Marketing and Sales<br /> *Human Resources<br />*Accessing Capital<br />*Government Contracts<br />====Criteria====Applicant must be the owner or co-owner of business<br />Business must be certified with the City of Houston (MWSBE, DBE, PDBE, ACDBE)<br />Business operating a minimum of three years<br />Business has a minimum of four employees<br />Business has a minimum of $250,000 annual revenue<br />Business must be in the construction industry<br />