MEETING OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
June 9, 2009
Minutes
The Economic Development Committee of the Board of Trustees of Houston
Community College held a meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the HCC
Administration Building, 3100 Main, 12th Floor in Chancellor Conference Room,
Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Bruce Austin, Committee Chair
Abel Davila, Committee Member
ADMINISTRATION
Daniel Seymour, Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Renee Byas, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Austin called the meeting to order at 8:44 a.m. and declared the Committee
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICIES AND BYLAWS
Mr. Austin apprised that the discussion for the meeting is relating to a concept on
economic development.
Mr. Austin provided a presentation on BizConnect and noted that the presentation
provides a mind map of activities suggested for utilization including career voyages to
interface with early colleges as well as industry clusters, apprenticeship programs, fouryear institutions and certification projects. He noted that the clusters would identify the
industries for partnership opportunities.
Mr. Austin noted that the recommendations for the HCC Small Business and
Technology Development Center include counseling, training and research. He
suggested that the college participate with the Small Business Administration and
negotiate to become a Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC). He
noted most of the regional colleges currently have technology components and
expressed that HCC has the proper design due to the regional concept.
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Economic Development Committee – June 9, 2009 - Page 2
Mr. Austin noted that the economic development concept would:
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Provide assistance to small businesses
Find entrepreneur and small business support
Encourage smart growth partnerships
Mr. Austin provided a definition of a student incubator using the Springfield Technical
College Concept. He noted that this is a design for a business development, which
would build a relationship with private industry.
He apprised that a collaborative workforce development and economic growth
connective must be developed. He noted that there are various concepts; however,
there needs to be a connection.
Mr. Austin also provided an overview of industry clusters and noted that there is both a
vertically-integrated cluster and a horizontally-integrated cluster.
He suggested
focusing on the gulf coast region in an effort to prepare people as well as industries to
be globally competitive.
Mr. Austin provided an overview of the industry clusters in terms of economics. He
noted that this would include assisting in the development and geographical stages. Mr.
Austin noted that there are over 2,500 findings that support growth through career
academies. He noted that the focus is to link economic development to workforce.
Mr. Austin presented information on sixteen career clusters and noted that community
colleges throughout the country have career clusters. He noted that the clusters would
allow students to be prepared in various areas and reminded that adult pathways will be
a major focus on high school dropouts, high school completers with no college, college
non-completers, foreign born U.S. residents, returning veterans and ex-offenders.
Mr. Austin suggested beginning with the eastside and venturing to all areas of the
college service areas.
Mr. Davila asked if a certificate program could be aligned with the City of Houston for
certification. Mr. Austin noted that this could be done once the program is developed.
Mr. Austin provided an overview on Historically Under-Utilized Businesses (HUB) Zones
and noted that most of the college district is encompassed in the HUB zone. Mr. Austin
noted that possible partnerships could be formed with chambers of commerce, trade
unions, government entities, private sectors, social service agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Dr. Seymour apprised that the college is already doing many of the items discussed.
He noted that there is currently a small business certificate program and business
solution center; however, the department does not have resources to build centers as
discussed.
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Economic Development Committee – June 9, 2009 - Page 3
Mr. Austin noted that the college currently has buildings and apprised that the
recommendation would be to utilize the current facilities. Dr. Seymour noted that there
is not a lot of space available on the various campuses. He provided information on the
GED programs that focus on the students eventually entering into certificate programs.
Dr. Seymour noted that the significant challenge is that many entrepreneurs need a
program that is at no cost; however, when there is a federally funded program it must be
subsidized. He noted that the college has a corporate college, which has a profit/loss
statement so the programs are not free. He inquired what type of programs and
services could be offered at no cost without federal funds and noted that the
suggestions provided by Mr. Austin are major efforts.
Mr. Austin noted that the college is in a position to offer what other colleges are not able
to do. He noted that the recommendation is not to offer the courses at no cost but to
get new contacts with the industry. He noted that the college could provide space so
that there could be interaction with such agencies as the Small Business Association
(SBA) and SCORE.
Dr. Seymour noted that the college could review opportunities with agencies such as
the SBA. Mr. Austin noted that building participation would also assist in developing
programs to fit the needs of the SBA.
Mr. Davila recommended revisiting discussions with the SBA, create a budget and
review the space utilization needs for the college to house such a program. He noted
that the certifications requirements from the city should also be reviewed. Mr. Austin
noted that all government agencies that conduct contracting should be reviewed to
research opportunities as it relates to certification. He noted that capacity building
funding should be considered for the city and county and suggested that the college
should be the primary connector to the city for training, which would alleviate the city’s
responsibility of training the vendor.
Mr. Austin recommended focusing on industry clusters. Mr. Davila noted that the
challenge is how to service all of the service areas of the college. Dr. Seymour
apprised that there is no economic development component to assist with connecting
the pieces.
Mr. Austin apprised that his concern is that the college does not miss the next
opportunity to develop a 504 program and noted that there should be a team effort
throughout the college. He noted that the opportunity should be presented throughout
the college.
Mr. Austin recommended that the college adopt BizConnect and review funding
opportunities to house programs in the colleges.
Mr. Davila asked for the next steps.
Mr. Austin noted that the focus is to develop a new concept to consolidate business
assistance activities under BizConnect to include a student incubator and BizTech
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Economic Development Committee – June 9, 2009 - Page 4
camp. He noted that he would provide the information to Dr. Seymour who could
provide an update on the implementation.
Mr. Austin noted that at least five of the colleges have expressed interest in
entrepreneurial programs and apprised that the college should be responsible for
identifying resources for the programs. Mr. Davila recommended that administration
conduct an analysis of what could be done in holding discussions with various agencies
and reviewing available grant funding opportunities.
Dr. Seymour noted that a discussion could be held at the next strategic team meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:54 a.m.
Recorded by:
Sharon R. Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved: