Project Rebuild Small Business Forum 2024

Description

The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC) is proud to announce our continuing partnership with the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) on the 2024 Project Rebuild Small Business Grant & Assistance Program.

All Austin-area AAPI-owned small businesses are invited to this event. You will receive:

• An opportunity to apply for a grant up to $3,000 (application starts during the event).
• Free technical assistance from our valued partners, including financial management, how to practically utilize AI to grow your business, workforce solutions, and access to capital.
• Resource support from the City of Austin Small Business Division and Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance.
• Networking with other small business owners and Austin's AAPI business community.

RSVP HERE

Please note: By registering for this event, you will receive a complimentary Associate Level membership to the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC), and receive email communications from GAACC. Thanks to our sponsors, this event is free of charge. Your registration information may be shared with GAACC event sponsors.

Event Details

WHAT: Project Rebuild Small Business Forum 2024

WHEN: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 | 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

WHERE: Workforce Solutions Capital Area, 9001 N IH 35, Suite 110, Austin, TX 787533 [map]

Know Before You Go

• Parking at the venue is plenty and free. (Parking and Directions Link)
• Attire is business casual.
• There will be plenty of opportunity for networking - bring your business cards!
• Lunch from Mabuhay will be provided, along with drinks from Pepsi and tea served by West China Tea.
• Applications for the $3,000 grant will open at the event so read the application criteria and requirements provided below so you can successfully complete your submission. 

Event Agenda

11:30-12:00 pm: Registration & Refreshments

12:00-12:15 pm: GAACC Welcome & Introductions

12:15-12:45 pm: Technical Assistance Presentations

12:45-12:50 pm: Workforce Solutions and Resources

12:50-1:00 pm: Project Rebuild Small Business Grant Application Process

1:00-1:30 pm: Workforce Solutions Facility Tour (Optional)

1:00-2:00 pm: Networking & Refreshments

Event Sponsor

Asian American Business Development Center

Venue Sponsor

Thank you to Workforce Solutions Capital Area for providing their beautiful venue for this event. 

Workforce Solutions Capital Area

Technical Assistance Partners

Amazon Business

City of Austin Small Business Division 

Economic Development Finance, TSBCI Program

Photography Sponsor

Agorum

About the Project Rebuild Small Business Grant

10 -15 AAPI-owned small businesses will be selected to receive up to $3,000. Access to the online grant application form will be provided during the event on July 17 and the grant application window will be open between July 17 and August 17, 2024. It only takes 5-10 minutes to apply. Read below for information on grant criteria.

Grant Criteria

Those applying for the grant should meet the following requirements:

• Must be an AAPI-owned Business.
• Have not received a grant from AABDC before.
• Must have a physical address (no PO Box).
• Must be in business for more than two years, or at least since July 17th, 2022.
• Total annual revenue must not exceed more than $1 million.
• Must have a business bank account/DBA (funds will not be disbursed to personal accounts).

What qualifies as an AAPI-owned Business?

• While we use the term "AAPI-owned" to denote qualified businesses, Asian/Pacific American (APA) or Asian/Pacific Islander (API) or Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) or Asian American and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) are equivalent terms commonly used in the United States to denote Americans who trace their origin or ancestry to any of the 40+ countries found on the Asian continent or any of the 15+ countries located in the Pacific Ocean (including the U.S. state of Hawaii).
• An AAPI-owned business must be 51% owned and controlled by someone who is Asian-American or Pacific Islander American.
• A business can still be considered AAPI-owned if there are non-AAPI or even non-minority co-owners, as long as they don’t own more than 49%.

Since the number of grants available is limited, further consideration will be given to business owners who share why support from this grant will have a meaningful impact on the business. Applicants may include responses to the following:

1. How you will leverage the technical assistance and capital support for the greatest impact?
2. Which challenges or barriers to economic mobility have you faced?

Finally, for revenue verification, grant applicants will be asked to submit their business Income Tax Return (ITR). It is a good idea (though not required) to have those documents ready in digital form to submit during this event. You may also submit your application during the application window (July 17-July 31, 2024). 

Documents submitted should be for 2023 and can include:

• For Sole Proprietorships - Schedule C
• For Partnerships - Form 1065, Schedule K-1
• For Corporations - Form 1120
• For Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) - If taxed as "Corporation" - Form 1120; if taxed as "Single-member" - Schedule C; if taxed as "Multi-member" - Form 1065

GAACC Corporate Sponsors & Partners

The generous support of these sponsors and partners allows GAACC to continue delivering programs to members and to the public with the mission of Serving Local while Thinking Global, and to support our members through advocacy, education, and connections. Learn more about our partners.

THANK YOU!