Author Archives: Craig Backus

How to apply for Small Business Loans from the SBA due to COVID-19

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The HEB Chamber previously sent out detailed information about the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) and the different options to get financial help to keep your employees and cover some of your business expenses during this challenging time. Senator John Cornyn tells us that we should get more information and dates when programs are available towards the end of this week.   

The SBA held a virtual meeting to go over the different programs in the CARES Act that can provide financial assistance for businesses on Thursday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. for several area chambers of commerce.    The recording has been uploaded to YouTube and the PowerPoint slides used in the presentation are included in the link below.

SBA-Loan-Programs-Power Point Slides April-2-2020Download

What you and your business need to know about COVID-19

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Article updated: 04-06-2020

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to increase as a global and local concern. Although we do not know of any active cases in our area, the HEB Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor the situation. All HEB Chamber events have been canceled through April 30. The Chamber staff will be answering phones and emails.

In addition, we want to offer you information and resources in order that you and your company can continue to operate as efficiently and as safely as possible.

Our COVID-19 LINKS page includes key resources we believe you will find useful.

Many of our members are going to be hard hit through this crisis and as a community, we will look to help each other as much as possible. There has been a lot of political talk about help to come for businesses affected by the economic shutdown. While that situation continues to develop, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has a Disaster Assistance Program in place where the SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. Here is a link to the program!

For information on COVID-19, you can access Texas Health’s website or you can call the Texas Health Coronavirus Hotline at 682-236-7601 to speak with a nurse 24/7.

We’re working to provide accurate and up-to-date materials to our members and will continue to update our website with additional resources.

Please let us know how the HEB Chamber of Commerce can be a resource to you and your business.

Wash your hands – don’t touch your face – stay home if you are sick!

10 Questions, 10 Minutes, Every 10 Years . . .

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Every 10 years, the U. S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency, counts every person living in the United States, no matter what their citizenship status.  The count is mandated by the U. S. Constitution.  The answers provided by households are used to produce statistics about states, counties, cities and census tracts.  The Census Bureau is required by law to keep individual information confidential and not share it with any other government agency. 

Between March 12 and 20, every home will receive a postcard explaining how to participate in the 2020 Census.  The household can respond online, by phone or by mail.   If a household does not receive a postcard, they can go online to my2020census.gov to complete the Census.  Households who have not responded by April 30 will be visited by a Census employer.  Census employees will have identification and the interviewer can be verified by calling 972/510-1800.  You will not receive an email to ask for your Census information, nor will you be asked for your social security number, bank information, citizenship, passwords or for monetary donations.

More people counted in our community means more money can be allotted for programs and projects in our community.  Census data affects more than $675 billion of funding for more than 100 programs, including school lunches, career, and technical education, business and industry loans, homeland security grants, Head Start, grants for mental health services, SNAP, highway construction, Community Development Block Grants, crime victim’s assistance and more.  In Texas, a one-percent undercount could cost our state $300 million annually in federal funding.  Businesses rely on Census data for market research, economic development and where to expand locations.  Additionally, the Census is used for apportionment – deciding how many representatives an area/state has in the U. S. Congress and redrawing legislative districts and voting precincts.

Please share this information with your friends, associates, and employees.  A complete count is an important initiative for us all!  For more information go to 2020Census.gov.   #CountMeInHEB

HEB Youth in Government class – 2020

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The HEB 2020 Youth In Government class begins in January!

The Youth in Government is a cooperative effort between the HEB Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Hurst, Euless, and Bedford. This program was developed to engage students in city government and community involvement. Applicants must live in Hurst, Euless or Bedford and be a junior or senior in high school by January 1, 2020.

Classes will be held on Mondays from 5:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Transportation will not be provided and meetings will be held at various locations in HEB. A light dinner will be provided.

Class dates:
January 13 & 27
February 10 & 24
March 2 & 23
April 2
April 13 – graduation

APPLY BY COMPLETING THE APPLICATION BELOW AND RETURNING IT TO LINDA@HEB.ORG BY DEC. 16.  While email is the preferred choice for returning the application, they can also be mailed to P.O. Drawer 969, Bedford, Texas 76095 or sent via fax to  817.267.5111.

PROGRAM FLYER

YIG APPLICATION

What Makes America Great ?? US

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First and foremost I would like to say thank you, everyone, for taking time out of their busy schedules to come by 🙂

When I got the chance to meet the Mayor of Bedford TX Jim Griffin, he shook my hand firmly to welcome me into the Chamber of Commerce and handed me this Plaque, I felt the joy of knowing that I had accomplished something great today.  As I got to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony with lots of other distinguished members of the board, my friends, my employees and my Mom and Dad I could not help but get flooded with emotions. As the son of a first-generation immigrant, everyone always looks toward the ownership of a business and an entrepreneurial model to fully encompass the American dream.  The dogma of being an immigrant does not always mean we are here to take jobs away but here is a small scale example of we are also capable of creating jobs for others.

Today marks the start of what I believe will be a truly triumphant journey! More than just providing quality food to Hurst/Euless/Bedford area HEB-TX.  I strive to be a centerpiece of our community by donating and engaging with local nonprofits, hiring multi-racial/multi-gender employees without any discrimination, fostering win-win relationships with local businesses, and helping to spring entrepreneurship and innovation. I hope to not only grow but to contribute to the social utility seen in this great area I call home. I know these goals will take time and perseverance but the only goal starts at the beginning and today is that beginning!! ….thank you all for your support and love!

Best Regards,

Max Majumder – Owner/Operator

Dickeys Barbecue Pit – Euless TX

Soulman’s Bar-B-Que Backs North Texas Students with Backpack Drive

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Drop-offs available at all 21 DFW Soulman’s locations

July 23, 2019 (DALLAS) – With the rise in North Texas school districts that have a high volume of students in need, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que is teaming up with local Dallas radio station, 94.9 KLTY, to coordinate donations of backpacks and school supplies at all of their 21 North Texas locations beginning on July 22, 2019.

“We are strongly committed to the communities we serve. In the spirit of back-to-school and access to a great education for each and every child, we are opening our doors to anyone who wants to gather new school supplies, fill as many backpacks as they can and bring them to any of our collection boxes. Our goal is to get as many supplies and backpacks to students in time for the first day of the 2019-2020 school year,” says Soulman’s Bar-B-Que Director of Marketing, Baylea Wood.

Soulman’s and 94.9 KLTY will be hosting a Kick-Off Event on August 3, 2019 at the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additionally, there will be four live remote broadcasts in August at the Soulman’s Bar-B-Que locations in Southlake (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 5), Wylie (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 6),  Mansfield (5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on August 7) and Royse City (3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on August 9).

Soulman’s Bar-B-Que is honored to support education in North Texas through numerous initiatives. Throughout the year, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que hosts events that benefit their neighboring schools. Coupled with fundraising for booster clubs, auction donations, team meals and Spirit Nights, Soulman’s is a proud sponsor of education in North Texas.

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 About Soulman’s Bar-B-Que

For more than 40 years, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que has satisfied the hardest to please bar-b-que lovers….Texans!  Founded in Pleasant Grove, Texas in 1974, Soulman’s had only a few simple goals—serve great Texas-style BBQ and offer friendly, sincere service.  Soulman’s original family recipes are still the foundation for the company’s success from their 8 different types of meat that are smoked “low & slow” over only hickory wood to their famous homemade sides, including Ranch house beans and Texas style cream corn! Throughout the years, this family-owned and operated company has remained true to their original strive for success and customer satisfaction and is honored to be considered one of the Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2018). Soulman’s currently owns and operates 21 North and East Texas locations in Addison, Allen, Cedar Hill, Forney, Garland, Greenville, Hurst, Hurst- Grapevine Highway, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mansfield, Mesquite, Quinlan, Rockwall I-30, Rockwall Goliad, Royse City, Southlake, Sulphur Springs, Terrell, Van and Wylie. To learn more about Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, visit them online at http://www.soulmans.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soulmansbbq.

 

Media Contact:
Dana Cobb; 972-955-9747
pr@soulmans.com

HEB Chamber Photo Contest – 2019

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You already know that HEB is the place to be – we do, too. But now we want EVERYONE to know about our three great cities. And that’s why we’re hosting the HEB Chamber Photo Contest, sponsored by Frost Bank.

We’re looking for fun, original, interesting images of Hurst, Euless and Bedford. What you photograph is up to you. It could be an event, a place, an activity, or a scene – we particularly enjoy photos of people at work or enjoying our community. Show us what makes HEB such a great place to live, work and play!

The contest is open to all professional and amateur photographers, including youth. And of course we have prizes: First place is $150, second prize is $75 and third prize is $50. Your photo also might be included in our 2020 membership directory and community guide — perhaps even on the cover!

Participants may enter up to six photos, complete rules below. Email entries to paola@heb.org. Winners will be announced in the fall.

The HEB Chamber Photo Contest is a great way to celebrate our three cities and our talented residents. So don’t delay – grab your camera and start clicking!

RULES

 

  1. Entries must be the original work of the entrant, not infringe on the rights of others and have been taken in 2018 or 2019 in HEB.
  2. The contest is open to everyone, no age requirements.
  3. Photos will be judged for originality, technical excellence, and overall impact. Photos cannot be altered beyond standard optimization, cropping, color and contrast adjustments, etc.
  4. Entrants may submit up to six photos. Entries should be submitted in jpeg format, 300 dpi or higher. Please provide a short caption for each photo. (For example, “Family walking through Bob Eden Park in Euless.”)
  5. HEB Chamber of Commerce Board members and their immediate families can participate but are not eligible to win prizes. “Immediate family members” are those living in the same household.
  6. If identifiable individuals appear in a photo, the photographer must provide a signed Photo Release Form from each individual. If minors are in the photo, a signed consent form is required for each youth.
  7. If the photographer is a minor, a legal guardian must complete and include the Minor Entry Permission Form.
  8. The Chamber will retain the right to publish all photos submitted, to use in our membership directory and community guide, on our website and for other Chamber promotions. Appropriate attribution will be given to the photographer, but no further compensation will be given.
  9. Photos submitted without the appropriate release forms will not be eligible for the contest or for publication. Participation in the contest implies acceptance of all contest rules, regardless of whether entrants sign a statement confirming acceptance.
  10. Winners will be announced in the fall, all decisions made by the judges are final.
  11. Entry Deadline is Friday, September, 13, 2019.

Email entries to paola@heb.org. If you need assistance, please email paola@heb.org or call 817-283-1521.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Be in The Guide in 2020!

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The Guide is the HEB Chamber’s award-winning annual membership directory. But that’s just the start.

The 2020 Guide also is the definitive resource for the Hurst Euless Bedford area, used by thousands of businesses, residents and those who are considering relocation. Consider:

5,000 copies are printed and distributed to visitors, residents and area businesses, including realtors, medical centers, banks, and every Chamber member business.

The online edition expands our reach across the web and features interactive ads that allow viewers to click directly to your website.

The Guide celebrates all the great things about our community, and member businesses are listed by products and services. Ad design services are available for a flat rate of $50.

Simply put, The Guide is your critical connection to the community, the businesses, and the opportunities. Advertise in the publication where people look first, so you can be FOUND first.

To learn more about advertising opportunities, please call Paola Mariscal at 817-283-1521. Or complete this form and send it to paola@heb.org.

The Guide 2020 – Ad Rates