By:  Madla                                             S.R. No. 851
         99S1455/1                           
                                  SENATE RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office is working to
 1-2     develop proactive and innovative methods of outreach to strengthen
 1-3     economic equality and enhance the utilization of small businesses,
 1-4     woman-owned businesses, historically underutilized businesses, and
 1-5     minority institutions in Air Force programs; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The mission of the outreach program is to provide
 1-7     military commanders, small business specialists, and industry
 1-8     leaders with objective, practical, and research-based information
 1-9     that will assist in the creation of programs and strategies
1-10     promoting effective and efficient utilization of small business;
1-11     and
1-12           WHEREAS, This objective may be accomplished through increased
1-13     public awareness, outreach activities, and education and training
1-14     programs; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Collaboration between the Air Force Outreach Program
1-16     Office and state and local governments allows the office to connect
1-17     with a large number of small businesses, enabling the office to
1-18     provide comprehensive services; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office and the City
1-20     of San Antonio Economic Development Department recently entered
1-21     into a memorandum of understanding to further these goals; and
1-22           WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office and the City
1-23     of San Antonio share a common vision and wish to achieve mutual
1-24     objectives, including maintaining good neighbor relationships with
 2-1     the local community, conducting outreach focus groups, promoting
 2-2     alliances between businesses, academia, and government, and the
 2-3     continued support of the "city/base" initiatives of Brooks Air
 2-4     Force Base and the City of San Antonio; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, The partnership between the Air Force Outreach
 2-6     Program Office and the City of San Antonio fosters the development
 2-7     of strategies to encourage economic growth and job opportunities
 2-8     for the San Antonio community, promotes effective and efficient
 2-9     utilization of small business, and strengthens the value of all
2-10     economically based programs to the Air Force, the Department of
2-11     Defense, and other national and local interests; and
2-12           WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office would like to
2-13     expand its program and form an alliance with the Texas Department
2-14     of Economic Development to assist and support small and
2-15     historically underutilized businesses throughout the State of
2-16     Texas; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Such a partnership will assist both the Air Force
2-18     Outreach Program Office and the Texas Department of Economic
2-19     Development in identifying areas of opportunity for small
2-20     businesses in the changing local and national business climate;
2-21     now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 76th
2-23     Legislature, hereby support the efforts of the Air Force Outreach
2-24     Program Office and encourage the Texas Department of Economic
2-25     Development to enter into a partnership with the Air Force Outreach
2-26     Program Office to support small businesses in order to enhance
 3-1     economic growth and job opportunities throughout the State of
 3-2     Texas; and, be it further
 3-3           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
 3-4     forwarded to the executive director and the governing board of the
 3-5     Texas Department of Economic Development.