Houston Business Journal 2006

• Having a game plan will help companies secure new deals- 12-29-2006
  In a few short days, the lighted ball in Times Square will begin its traditional countdown descent, 2,000 pounds of confetti will rain down on revelers in New York and people throughout the world will celebrate the end of another year. 2006 will become history. [more]
• Look for silver lining in state’s budget plans – 12-18-2006
  As the 80th session of the Texas Legislature approaches, the state’s booming economy has boosted sales tax collections by 14 percent compared to last year. Equally optimistic news is provided by other economic benchmarks: Texas’ gross state product has increased by 5 percent this year and personal income has risen by 7 percent. [more]
• Vendors can find green pastures in latest Houston park contracts – 12-04-2006
  Think of the word “park” and you might conjure up images of leisure activities, from children on swings, to adults jogging or reading on a bench or dogs catching Frisbees. But a growing body of research demonstrates that parks aren’t just about play. Parks are a hard-working component of a city’s infrastructure, paying strong dividends in terms of economic development, increased property values, lower crime and a healthier citizenry. [more]
• High cost of crime pays off with increased vendor opportunities – 11-17-2006
  Since the days of our Founding Fathers, Americans have been in firm agreement that law enforcement is an essential role of government. So much value is placed on public safety that it is a fundamental measure of our quality of life. [more]
• Vendor conferences offer multiple networking opportunities – 11-06-2006
  We live in a world of advanced technology and much of it is designed to reach buyers. Millions of messages come at us every minute in myriad ways. Marketing is extremely competitive and is becoming more so each day. Companies hoping to reach government buyers have a hard time getting through to decision makers. Even the largest, most successful firms struggle constantly to get their messages heard in a very noisy marketplace. Marketing experts agonize over decisions about how to get the most from promotional budgets. How much should be spent on branding, Internet visibility, ad placement, personal contacts, mass mailings and sponsorship of industry sector conferences? It’s a puzzle that continues to get more complicated. [more]
• Learn to tap into community college vendor opportunities – 10/25/2006
  Texas community colleges play an important role in fueling the state’s economic engine. Operating as open-enrollment institutions with affordable tuition, community colleges make higher education available to any motivated student and contribute enormously to our state’s educated work force. [more]
• Massive UT system investment spawns vendor opportunities – 10/09/2006
  Sometimes, a complex and troubling economic trend can be boiled down to an unmistakable, startling fact. Consider this: In 1956 — 50 years ago — the United States graduated twice as many individuals earning physics degrees as it did in 2004. Knowing what we do now about the importance of an educated work force and its relevance to sustained economic growth, that statistic speaks volumes about the direction our education system must take if we are to remain an economic force in a competitive global economy. Math, science, engineering, healthcare and technology experts are what make nations competitive. Without a leading presence in these areas, a nation’s economic destiny is at risk. [more]
• Tapping into the state school market can be a real education – 9/25/2006
  With responsibility for educating 4.3 million children, Texas public schools are a major economic engine in our state. In the 2003-04 school year, Texas elementary, middle and high schools spent $38.3 billion from all fund sources, creating jobs and a demand for a complex variety of goods and services. [more]
• Transportation districts offer diverse contracting opportunities – 9/11/2006
  All types of firms, from seasoned government contractors to firms new to local-government contracting, should watch transportation district developments throughout Texas. [more]
• Government entities poised to be big surveillance system customers – 8/25/2006
  Surveillance systems are in high demand at all levels of government. There are hundreds of upcoming opportunities for all types of solutions — from courtroom cameras to sophisticated red-light monitoring cameras with license plate recognition. While some governmental entities may elect to upgrade systems already in place, there is a huge array of surveillance options available, and most governmental organizations are opting for newer technology. [more]
• City/state’s Homeland Security dollars have many places to go – 8/11/2006
  Ever wonder where all the Homeland Security money coming into Texas goes? Most Texans are aware that the state received hundreds of millions of dollars in Homeland Security funds over the past couple of years. What most Texans don’t know is how the money was used. [more]
• Huge technology opportunities evolving from school bond issues – 7/28/2006
  In the past year, Texas voters have approved billions of dollars in funding for school districts throughout the state. Almost every bond issue that passed had some allocation for technology products and services, and most had extremely large allocations for technology. [more]
• All levels of government seeking contracting vehicles with drive – 7/14/2006
  Texans are notorious for loving good vehicles. Sophisticated government contractors also appreciate fine vehicles, but most especially love “contracting vehicles.” [more]
• Sneak a peek at items on track for state funding – 6/30/2006
  Contractors are always interested in finding potential business opportunities before the general public hears the news. In the public sector marketplace, that is something that can definitely be accomplished, thanks to Public Records statutes, Freedom of Information laws and public meetings. [more]
• Homeland security solutions spur allocations for Houston – 6/16/2006
  The Houston market for homeland security-related products, services and solutions just got a large boost as a result of some new funding allocations from the federal government. And indications are that the funding will soon increase even more. [more]
• Line up with government now for future hurricane contracts – 6/2/2006
  Hurricane season is upon us, and government officials at all levels have made commitments to be more prepared this year. Contractors that can offer goods and services during the next disaster should be just as prepared. [more]
• Houston a ripe target for firms with homeland security solutions – 5/19/2006
  For businesses interested in selling homeland security-related solutions, Houston may be the premier destination in Texas. [more]
• Students prepare for summer break as contractors ramp up – 4/21/2006
  The inevitable Texas heat has returned, and that can only mean one thing — summer is approaching. For most, the summer months conjure up thoughts of empty and idle school buildings, but the fact is, many school campuses will be very busy places and it will not be unusual to find them teeming with contractors trying to wrap up improvements and handle expansions before pupils return to classes. [more]
• Private-sector firms can tap into billions worth of state contracts – 4/7/2006
  Many businesses have finally decided that it is no longer possible to ignore governmental marketplaces. In spite of a slower sales process and the perceived bureaucracy associated with government, the public-sector marketplace is now so lucrative most firms are anxious to participate. With more outsourcing occurring, one could almost compare the grab for opportunities to those that occurred during the infamous gold rush decades ago. [more]
• Local opportunities abound as voters consider bond projects – 3/24/2006
  Statewide growth projections, put in place some years ago, estimated that the region around Houston would grow by 100,000 residents each year between 2000 and 2010. Considering that the projection is holding steady and that the expected growth did not include the thousands of Louisiana residents who migrated to Houston after last year’s hurricanes, it is easy to understand how staying ahead of demand is a monumental task for local government leaders and school officials. [more]
• State, local agencies provide outlet for medical suppliers – 3/17/2006
  State agencies and public universities in Texas spent more than $635 million on medical supplies and services last year. That is an eye-catching amount when one realizes that this represents only two governmental sectors in the state. [more]
• Shift in DHS policy may result in more work for area contractors – 2/24/2006
  Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began implementing a new policy that promises to be positive for Houston emergency management officials and government contractors with homeland security solutions. [more]
• Hurricane funding, contracting opportunities still in full swing – 2/10/2006
  On any given day, media reports could lead one to believe that either no funding is flowing to alleviate problems caused by last year’s hurricanes, or that all clean-up and rebuilding contracts have already been awarded. The fact is, however, that there is an abundance of money flowing, and contracts are still being let weekly for new work. [more]
• State board poised to pounce on real estate investment deals – 1/20/2006
  The Texas School Land Board, a division of the General Land Office, recently made a momentous policy decision that merits the full attention of real estate professionals and developers throughout the country. Beginning this year, the Texas School Land Board intends to invest about $1.8 billion in hard commercial real estate assets — everything from office buildings to hotels. [more]

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