The Central Texas Business Resource Center (BRC) is a collaboration of the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas (WSCT), Central Texas College (CTC), and the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce (GKCC). Originally started by the Texas Center for Women’s Business Enterprise on March 1, 2000, the fledgling office provided basic individual counseling in an effort to combat the rapid opening and closing of local businesses. The local economy was struggling at that time and there were many empty buildings around town. The Texas Center for Women’s Business also struggled with funding and was close to closing until in March, 2002, Workforce Solutions, CTC, and the Killeen Chamber formed a joint venture to shoulder the responsibility of keeping this unique resource open to the community.
The BRC mission and vision was to support local job seekers in their efforts to become small business owners. The BRC recognizes that every individual client is different with unique ideas and goals for their business. The staff are dedicated, mature individuals who have owned several businesses in their own right. They have a broad range of experience that enables them to provide high-quality individual counseling, business classes, workshops, administrative assistance such as Notary to potential and existing small business owners. As a non-membership, non-profit program, the BRC is dedicated to providing free businesses services to all individuals in the central Texas region that need assistance.
The BRC is the only office of its kind in the state of Texas. While some universities or colleges, communities and other organizations may provide some access to information resources, none are performing at the level of the BRC nor are they providing these services for free.
The BRC works hard to create professional relationships with existing businesses, civic organizations, and government entities for mutual support and recognition of our programs and activities. The BRC also works closely on projects that can co-sponsored with other resources serving the small business community such as Central Texas College ENACTUS Program.
The BRC also provides mutual support to the U.S. Small Business Agency in Fort Worth, the Cross Timbers Procurement Technical Assistance Center at the University of Texas at Arlington and McClennan College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Temple. Recently, the BRC hosted a visit by Yolanda Olivares, the SBA Southwest Regional Administrator and Mariana Pardo, the HUBZone Program Director at SBA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
The BRC has strong relationships with the U.S. Army and Fort Hood. They partner with the Ft Hood Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (TAP), to offer business workshops twice monthly free of charge to soldiers transitioning out of the military. The BRC has a similar program with the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s Warrior in Transition Unit (WIT), which provides additional career options for soldiers being medically separated.
Workforce Solutions of Central Texas provides space for the BRC in the Workforce Center in Killeen TX. Additional workshops are offered here. Most workshops are provided at no charge, however some may have a low fee when food is provided.
Confidential counseling is available by walk in or appointment Monday- Friday 8am – 5pm, at our offices located at 300 Cheyenne Drive, Killeen, TX 76542.
Please visit www.centexbrc.com for additional information regarding workshop topics, dates, and times.
“The Central Texas Business Resource Center has won awards for Best community program & Exceptional Quality of Life Partnerships.”
Written By: Alysia Perkins, Business Resource Center Counselor
Published in: Greater Killeen Business Quarterly 2016 Restaurant & Catering Guide