1-1 By: Madla S.R. No. 851 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed May 5, 1999; May 5, 1999, read first 1-3 time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military 1-4 Installations; May 11, 1999, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 11, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office is working to 1-8 develop proactive and innovative methods of outreach to strengthen 1-9 economic equality and enhance the utilization of small businesses, 1-10 woman-owned businesses, historically underutilized businesses, and 1-11 minority institutions in Air Force programs; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The mission of the outreach program is to provide 1-13 military commanders, small business specialists, and industry 1-14 leaders with objective, practical, and research-based information 1-15 that will assist in the creation of programs and strategies 1-16 promoting effective and efficient utilization of small business; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, This objective may be accomplished through increased 1-19 public awareness, outreach activities, and education and training 1-20 programs; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Collaboration between the Air Force Outreach Program 1-22 Office and state and local governments allows the office to connect 1-23 with a large number of small businesses, enabling the office to 1-24 provide comprehensive services; and 1-25 WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office and the City 1-26 of San Antonio Economic Development Department recently entered 1-27 into a memorandum of understanding to further these goals; and 1-28 WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office and the City 1-29 of San Antonio share a common vision and wish to achieve mutual 1-30 objectives, including maintaining good neighbor relationships with 1-31 the local community, conducting outreach focus groups, promoting 1-32 alliances between businesses, academia, and government, and the 1-33 continued support of the "city/base" initiatives of Brooks Air 1-34 Force Base and the City of San Antonio; and 1-35 WHEREAS, The partnership between the Air Force Outreach 1-36 Program Office and the City of San Antonio fosters the development 1-37 of strategies to encourage economic growth and job opportunities 1-38 for the San Antonio community, promotes effective and efficient 1-39 utilization of small business, and strengthens the value of all 1-40 economically based programs to the Air Force, the Department of 1-41 Defense, and other national and local interests; and 1-42 WHEREAS, The Air Force Outreach Program Office would like to 1-43 expand its program and form an alliance with the Texas Department 1-44 of Economic Development to assist and support small and 1-45 historically underutilized businesses throughout the State of 1-46 Texas; and 1-47 WHEREAS, Such a partnership will assist both the Air Force 1-48 Outreach Program Office and the Texas Department of Economic 1-49 Development in identifying areas of opportunity for small 1-50 businesses in the changing local and national business climate; 1-51 now, therefore, be it 1-52 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 76th 1-53 Legislature, hereby support the efforts of the Air Force Outreach 1-54 Program Office and encourage the Texas Department of Economic 1-55 Development to enter into a partnership with the Air Force Outreach 1-56 Program Office to support small businesses in order to enhance 1-57 economic growth and job opportunities throughout the State of 1-58 Texas; and, be it further 1-59 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 1-60 forwarded to the executive director and the governing board of the 1-61 Texas Department of Economic Development. 1-62 * * * * *