Harris County’s New Equity Chief Outlines “How to Do Business” with the County at IACCGH Open Forum
By Somdatta Basu
Houston — The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) monthly Business Hour on Open Forum opened with a straightforward but critical question: How can more local firms—especially small and minority-owned businesses—do business with Harris County?
The answer, delivered with clarity and encouragement by Tiko Reynolds-Hausman, Executive Director of the Harris County Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO), was practical and actionable.
“Start by registering as a County vendor,” Reynolds-Hausman said. “If you make it or sell it, chances are we buy it. Vendor registration is your entry point—it tells buyers who you are and what you provide.”
Born in Texas and raised in Houston, Reynolds-Hausman—formerly an operations lead in the office of Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia—assumed leadership of DEEO in October. She explained that the department was created following a 2020 disparity analysis to expand access to County contracting opportunities for historically underrepresented businesses, while keeping procurement open to all qualified vendors.
“Harris County does business with everyone,” she emphasized. “Certification can help on larger contracts with subcontracting goals, but it is not a prerequisite to sell to the County. Registration is.”
With purchasing centralized under the County Purchasing Agent and projects delivered across multiple departments and all four commissioners’ precincts, the system can appear complex to first-time vendors. Reynolds-Hausman described DEEO as a guide through that landscape.
“Think of us as your connector,” she said. “We help you understand who buys what, when bids are coming, and how to assemble a compliant response.”
She noted that the Purchasing Office posts hundreds of solicitations weekly—reflecting the needs of a county serving more than 4.5 million residents—and that DEEO has launched a recurring Business Roundtable series to preview upcoming opportunities in areas such as infrastructure and information technology. A chamber-focused workshop is planned for March to walk IACCGH members through vendor registration and near-term procurement opportunities.
Capacity building was central to Reynolds-Hausman’s message. Through Harris Hub, small businesses located in Harris County can receive up to 15 hours of no-cost, needs-based technical assistance—ranging from website development and business planning to legal review. Upon completion, participants become eligible for a $5,000 grant funded through federal recovery dollars.
“It sounds too good to be true, but it’s real,” she said, citing a beauty supply business owner who used the grant to expand inventory and accelerate cash flow.
For businesses seeking working capital, the Harris County Opportunity Fund offers low-interest loans—generally up to $250,000—available through 2029. The program is designed to support small and microbusinesses that may not yet meet traditional banking thresholds.
“The goal is to unlock growth, not create hurdles,” Reynolds-Hausman noted.
For prime contractors, DEEO provides support on solicitations that include MWBE subcontracting goals by helping identify qualified subcontractors and reviewing MWBE sections of bid packages for completeness.
“We can’t score your proposal,” she said, “but we can help you avoid technical disqualifiers.”
Addressing bonding challenges in the construction sector, Reynolds-Hausman acknowledged that DEEO does not issue bonds but highlighted a policy shift underway: releasing subcontractor bonds as soon as their portion of work is completed.
“When your bond is tied up until final closeout, it’s like a maxed-out credit card—you can’t take the next job,” she explained.
Participants also asked about disaster response and emergency purchasing. Harris County maintains on-call contracts for disaster-related work and conducts expedited purchases during emergencies. Once again, the guidance was clear: register early, select accurate commodity codes, and remain active in the purchasing portal so buyers can find you when time-sensitive needs arise.
While companies outside Harris County are welcome to bid on and perform County work, Reynolds-Hausman clarified that Harris Hub assistance and grants are limited to Harris County-based businesses, as they are funded with County dollars.
Beyond procurement, DEEO’s work spans workforce and economic development. Apprenticeship programs connect trained residents with prime contractors, while the County’s Empower initiative provides upskilling in IT and AI—placing several participants into internships supporting County cybersecurity and customer service operations.
DEEO also offers no-cost market research, including demographic and industry analysis, and is reviving tax abatement tools for qualifying investments.
“Too many companies skip the homework,” Reynolds-Hausman said. “We’ll help you look at density, competition, and demand so you enter markets where your odds of success are higher.”
The IACCGH Business Hour—co-hosted by longtime Chamber supporters and featuring active listener call-ins—concluded with a concise checklist:
Register as a Harris County vendor with accurate commodity codes and banking details
Monitor weekly bid postings
Engage DEEO for guidance on certification strategy, MWBE compliance, and departmental introductions
If County-based, complete Harris Hub hours and claim the $5,000 grant
Consider the Opportunity Fund for growth capital
Participate in roundtables, meet-and-greets, and the upcoming IACCGH workshop in March
As Reynolds-Hausman summarized, “The County spends billions of dollars each year. We want the best contractors on our jobs—and we want you to know exactly how to compete.”