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How Harris County Streamlined Technical Assistance Provider Management and Tracking with FORWARD
- FORWARD Platform
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Harris County, Texas, with a population exceeding 4.7 million, faced significant economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among its small business community. To address these issues, Harris County launched the Harris Hub Small Business Support Accelerator Grant Program.
This $6 million initiative was administered by FORWARD and provides customized technical assistance from Roads Consulting Group and BakerRipley and financial grants to small businesses with 25 or fewer employees.
“Working with FORWARD has been an exceptional experience. Their team is incredibly efficient, solutions-oriented, and always responsive to our needs. The reports and summaries they present during check-ins are not only beautifully designed but also highly informative, clearly highlighting program progress and any challenges we face.”
Paula C. Pineda, Ph.D., Assistant Director, ARPA Initiatives, Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity, Harris County, Texas
Challenges
Harris County encountered several challenges in administering the Harris Hub Small Business Support Program:
Challenges in Standardizing Data
Disparate systems and methods to track technical assistance and applicant information made it difficult for Harris County to create uniform reports and track program effectiveness.
Partner Coordination and Technical Assistance Tracking
Managing the activities of multiple partners and ensuring that technical assistance hours were properly recorded across different applicants posed a significant logistical challenge.
Limited Visibility Into Grant Spending
Harris County needed a reliable way to track how small businesses utilized their grant funds.
Solutions Provided by FORWARD
FORWARD’s program administration solution provided Harris County with a comprehensive platform to address these challenges:
One Centralized Hub for Applicants and Partners
Applicants could apply through the centralized FORWARD platform, where both partners, Roads Consulting Group and BakerRipley, could review applications, track progress, and record training hours. This created a seamless experience for applicants and ensured that both TAs and Harris County had full visibility into each business’s journey through the program.
Standardization of Data Across Partners
FORWARD’s cloud-based platform, built in Microsoft Azure, standardized data entry by implementing consistent data fields and formats for all partners. This allowed Harris County to consolidate reports and ensure that the same metrics were being measured across the board, reducing errors and discrepancies in reporting.
Streamlined Technical Assistance Tracking
FORWARD’s solution allowed Roads Consulting Group and BakerRipley to log their technical assistance hours directly into the centralized system. This made it easier for Harris County to track the exact services provided to each business, ensuring consistent service delivery and better accountability.
Grant Spending Tracking
Small business awardees submitted their spending data through FORWARD’s platform, giving Harris County visibility into how each grant was used. This ensured compliance with program requirements and allowed for easier monitoring of business outcomes.
More than 60% of applicants identified as BIPOC. Over 60% of applicants were women-owned businesses.
Overall Impact on the Harris County Community
By partnering with FORWARD, Harris County has been able to successfully administer the Harris Hub Small Business Support Accelerator Grant Program, delivering much-needed financial and technical assistance to local small businesses. Key impacts include:
Efficient Data Management
FORWARD’s centralized platform provided Harris County with clear, standardized data, reducing the administrative burden on both government staff and community partners.
Increased Transparency
FORWARD’s system allowed Harris County to track program data, including technical assistance and grant spending in real-time, improving accountability and program oversight.
Improved Constituent Experience
The program’s application process, available in 68 languages via FORWARD’s user-friendly portal, greatly improved accessibility for small business owners. This streamlined process, coupled with real-time updates and clear communication, enhanced the overall experience for applicants, reducing wait times and ensuring they received the assistance they needed more quickly.
Greater Efficiency in Partner Coordination
The ability to track partner activities within a single platform enhanced collaboration, ensuring that all partners worked toward a common goal.
More than 60% of applicants identified as BIPOC.
Over 60% of applicants were women-owned businesses.
By leveraging FORWARD’s managed services program administration solution, Harris County was able to streamline data management, standardize reporting across multiple partners, and effectively measure program impact. This partnership enabled Harris County to effectively deliver financial aid and technical assistance to small businesses, accelerating economic recovery and building a more resilient business community.
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