The Fort Worth business community just took an important step forward.
We are proud to announce a strategic partnership between the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS). This collaboration formalizes a shared commitment to expanding access to Small Business Certification, strengthening supplier diversity pathways, and increasing contract readiness across the Fort Worth region.
At our recent Contractor Networking event, this partnership was officially recognized as Ericka Garza, President & CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Bliss Coulter, President & CEO of Women’s Business Council – Southwest, came together to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). This milestone represents more than a signature—it represents leadership alignment and a unified strategy to create measurable impact for small businesses.
Why This Partnership Matters
Small business certification is often the gateway to larger contract opportunities, supplier diversity programs, and long-term growth. However, many businesses struggle to navigate the certification process or understand how to leverage it once obtained.
Through this MOA, FWHCC and WBCS are working together to:
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Increase awareness and access to Small Business Certification
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Provide clearer guidance through the certification process
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Align education and contract readiness programming
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Connect businesses to broader supplier diversity networks
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Create stronger matchmaking between certified firms and procurement opportunities
By aligning our efforts, we are building a more streamlined and coordinated pathway for businesses seeking to compete and grow at a higher level.
A Unified Vision for Certification and Growth
This partnership is grounded in a shared belief: certification should not be an endpoint — it should be a launchpad.
Together, we are creating a stronger ecosystem where certification connects directly to opportunity. Businesses will have access to joint workshops, coordinated outreach, and aligned programming that prepares them not just to get certified, but to compete confidently in public and private markets.
Bliss Coulter and the Women’s Business Council – Southwest bring deep expertise in certification and supplier diversity. The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber brings local relationships, contract forecasting, and readiness programming. Together, we are strengthening the bridge between preparation and performance.
Advancing Long-Term Success in Fort Worth
This MOA reflects a broader shift in how we approach economic development: collaboration over duplication, alignment over fragmentation.
By working together, our organizations are increasing efficiency, improving access to resources, and expanding opportunity for small businesses throughout the region.
This partnership is about more than two organizations — it is about advancing the long-term success of the Fort Worth business community and ensuring that small businesses are prepared, certified, connected, and competitive.
We look forward to what we will build together. To find out more about the certification process: Matchmaking and Certifications
To visit the Womens Business Council Resources:Womens Business Council
