Fulshear Fast Track Program Aims to Grow Small Businesses
Photo courtesy of City of Fulshear
A luncheon hosted by the Fulshear Fast Track program.
Over the past year, the city of Fulshear has invested more than $200,000 into a program to grow small businesses.
Like many Houston-area suburbs, Fulshear has a reputation as a bedroom community, but city leaders are looking to create more jobs and grow businesses closer to home in Fort Bend County.
The City’s Economic Development Corporation
The city’s economic development corporation has partnered with The Cannon, a Houston-based business, to create the Fulshear Fast Track program. Together, they connect small business owners with advisors and help them develop their ideas. They’ve also hosted monthly luncheons and other programming for these business owners. The program is funded through sales taxes.
A Diverse Population
Annel Guadalupe, the director of Fulshear’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC), said Fulshear has a unique population — with many young families who have the funds to start their own businesses.
"You have people that have a full-time commitment, but they’re doing something on their own time and they’re finding small pockets of time or moms who stay at home, but have these great business ideas," she said.
Guadalupe said Fulshear’s population is also diverse, with many small business owners who’ve moved to the United States from another country. While they may have ideas they’re ready to launch, they’re learning about business regulations in a new country, she said.
Supporting Entrepreneurs
The program works with entrepreneurs across a spectrum – from those who have an idea but haven’t launched a company yet to those who own an established business but want to grow.
While economic development corporations often receive requests to incentivize large corporations to open branches in their cities, programs like Fulshear Fast Track allow the EDC to work with smaller businesses as well, Guadalupe said.
"Our local citizens can bring any kind of business idea (or) business plan, and have an advisor review it, and give them pointers on what changes need to be made to make it successful," she said.
Program’s Impact
The program’s managing director, Mat Yelvington, estimates that about 36 businesses have worked with the program’s advisors since it launched about a year ago. That number doesn’t include the number of business owners who’ve attended other events hosted by the program, he added.
"So far, businesses that we’ve connected with are predominantly service businesses … whether that be things like photography, social media, marketing opportunities, coaching (or) consulting services," he said.
Future Plans
This year, the program’s leaders are looking to start an angel investment group to connect these businesses with more funding, after local investors have approached the program.
"Fulshear wants to be known in the community and in the region as a pro-business city," Yelvington said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Fulshear Fast Track program?
A: The Fulshear Fast Track program is a program designed to support small businesses in Fulshear, Texas. It connects business owners with advisors and helps them develop their ideas.
Q: How is the program funded?
A: The program is funded through sales taxes.
Q: What kind of businesses has the program supported?
A: The program has supported service-based businesses, such as photography, social media, marketing, coaching, and consulting services.
Q: What are the goals of the program?
A: The goal of the program is to grow small businesses and create more jobs in Fulshear.
