Owners of small businesses in Houston's construction service industry soon will have access to an award-winning program designed to build their operational capacity, increase revenues, and create sustainable jobs in the region, local and national leaders announced today.

The City of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) and Boston-based nonprofit Interise jointly announced the launch of "Build Up Houston," the city's new executive education program that supports small construction companies currently operating and doing business in the City of Houston.

Since 2012, the Office of Business Opportunity has provided educational opportunities for construction firms in Houston to help them overcome construction industry challenges and share best practices. With its initial program yielding strong results, the Office of Business Opportunity seeks to enhance its initiative with the addition of Build Up Houston, launching Nov. 18, 2014.

Build Up Houston is a comprehensive seven-month program that will cover financial management, marketing and sales, human resource tactics, business strategy development, and access to capital and new contracts. Utilizing an interactive curriculum format, participants will get the tools and confidence to take the next step in their own growth trajectories. The program will use an award-winning curriculum developed and refined by Interise. Over the past 10 years, Interise has established itself as a results-driven national leader in helping established small business owners get to the next level of success and growth.

Utilizing an interactive curriculum format, participants will get the tools and confidence to take the next step in their own growth trajectories.

"The City of Houston is pleased to partner with UHD and Interise to bring this capacity building program to our great city," said Mayor Annise D. Parker. "With over 8,000 small construction companies in the Houston-Galveston region, these companies are not only helping to keep our economy strong, they also are employing over 166,000 Houstonians."

"Interise is very fortunate to expand our impact to Houston, especially during this time of remarkable growth," said Jean Horstman, CEO of Interise. "As partners, we are aligned in our beliefs that local small business growth and practical business education is the key to job growth and economic resilience."

"The Office of Business Opportunity is always looking for new ways to develop and assist small businesses in the Greater Houston area," said Director Carlecia Wright of the Office of Business Opportunity. "Interise has a proven track record of success in other cities in terms of growing the capacity of small businesses and we are looking forward to bringing this opportunity to Houston with the partnership of UHD."

"UHD is proud to be a partner with the City of Houston and Interise to develop organizational capacity for Houston's booming construction service industry," said UHD President Bill Flores. "Together, we will provide participants with tools and training to help them grow their companies as they do business with the City of Houston."

Interise's StreetWise 'MBA' ™ curriculum already is offered in 36 communities across the nation, including Dallas, through both the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce's Executive Education Program and Small Business Administration's Emerging Leaders program. The City of Houston now will join a network of providers that includes the City of New York Small Business Services, City of Portland Procurement Services, and the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council.

"With over 8,000 small construction companies in the Houston-Galveston region, these companies are not only helping to keep our economy strong, they also are employing over 166,000 Houstonians."

Of the more than 8,000 small construction companies in the Greater Houston area, nearly 97 percent have fewer than 100 employees, but opportunities to build capacity open the door for greater opportunities for employment. By supporting small businesses, the City of Houston, UHD and Interise aim to strengthen neighborhoods across the Houston region.

The Office of Business Opportunity has begun accepting applications for the Build Up Houston program.

To learn more about the program, please visit www.houstontx.gov/builduphouston.