HOUSTON – The City of Houston is seeking applicants for the sixth cohort of Build Up Houston, a no-cost executive education program designed to increase the capacity of a small business. The program is offered by the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) in partnership with Interise.

While Build Up Houston has focused on the construction industry since its inception in 2015, it is expanding to include businesses in hospitality, restaurants and retail. The 7-month program is set to begin in February 2021, and business owners are invited to attend an informational session from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22. Click here to register for the event.

“Build Up Houston is an opportunity for small business owners to gain valuable insight on how to scale and grow their operations even in uncertain times,” said OBO Director Marsha E. Murray. “They will utilize an award-winning curriculum, receive mentorship from industry experts, and analyze real-world case studies, including their own businesses. When they graduate from Build Up Houston, participants will have created a 3-year strategic growth plan, which can help take their businesses past this pandemic.”

To qualify for Build Up Houston, a business must be:

• Certified as a small business with the City of Houston
• Operating for a minimum of two years
• Have a minimum of two employees
• Have minimum annual revenue of $150,000

HOUSTON, Texas.- Three men died and one is in critical condition after a shooting Tuesday night at a club in Midtown, police said.

It happened around 9:45 p.m. at DD’s Sky Bar, in the 1700 block of Gray Street near Chenevert.

The club was packed for a “mic check” show, a performance with DJs, singers and producers whom the crowd judges.

Police say there was a fight on the second floor of the club, where at least two people pulled out guns and shot into the crowd.

A man named 07 Finesse says he heard shots right before he was set to perform.

“Seven to 10 gunshots. So we all started ducking down. After the gunshots stopped, we all got up, and I just seen dead bodies just on the ground. I stared one right in the face. Scariest stuff I’ve ever seen in my life,” 07 Finesse said.

When officers arrived, they found four people who had been shot. Three men died at the scene.

The fourth person was rushed to the hospital. He’s expected to survive.

Police believe there were at least two shooters, but so far, no arrests have been made.

Officials are checking surveillance video. The shooting remains under investigation.

HOUSTON – The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) and the Texas Music Office are co-hosting the live virtual Music Friendly Community Workshop for people interested in learning about the state’s new Music Friendly Community designation program.

The designation program seeks to foster music industry development in Texas cities and communities that are serious about attracting and developing local music industry growth.

“Houston is home to over 1,400 businesses in the music industry and more than 3,500 working musicians,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Our City prides itself on its strong historic music roots and is home to many current top performing musicians. Houston is always open for business and welcomes the opportunity of being a Music Friendly Community.”

A community workshop is part of the process to secure the Texas Friendly designation certification. The City’s virtual workshop will feature Chip Adams, Community Relations & Outreach Specialist of the Texas Music Office in the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Division. Adams will provide details and answer questions about the designation program.

Last year, the Texas music industry, with support from the Texas Music Office, generated $23.4 billion in economic revenue and created more than 209,000 jobs in communities across the state.

The virtual workshop is scheduled for Monday, October 26, at 6 p.m., via Microsoft Teams. To access the workshop, please visit @HoustonMOCA Facebook events https://fb.me/e/dqwDNuCew or contact Necole.Irvin@houstontx.gov.

For more information about COVID-19 related emergency funds or the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, visit houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs. You can also follow MOCA on Facebook and Instagram @HoustonMOCA.

As Houston’s law enforcement community agonizes once again over the death of an officer, the person believed to have pulled the trigger had threatened his wife twice leading up to shooting.

The suspect, Elmer Manzano, 51, was taken into custody from the Richmond Manor apartment complex on Holly Hall and then reportedly transported to Ben Taub Hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper body.

Police said he had barricaded himself in an apartment after two officers were wounded. Sgt. Harold Preston died from his injuries. This prompted SWAT team members to respond.

Chief Art Acevedo confirmed his department was called twice by Manzano’s wife over domestic violence.

Police documents obtained by ABC13 showed as recent as Sunday, the couple had a verbal fight over their 14-year-old son’s custody. Officers were called at that time, where they found six bullets on Manzano but no gun.

The incident resulted in police reporting “no assault occurred.”
Going a step further, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office was willing to accept a terroristic threat charge if officers believed that an assault happened. Prosecutors stated on their charge refusal slip “officer does not believe offense occurred.”

ABC13 also learned Manzano’s wife made at least one other complaint against her husband, which was taken this past Saturday, making it two reports to police over one weekend.

We’re also learning Manzano’s 14-year-old son was caught in harm’s way during Tuesday’s incident. The teen was shot and later taken to Texas Children’s Hospital. His condition was not immediately disclosed.

A search of Manzano’s criminal history showed a December 2002 charge of evading arrest with a motor vehicle, but Acevedo indicated Manzano had police called on him over repeated abuses to his family.

HOUSTON – The City of Houston invites job seekers to the Turnaround Houston Readiness Fair, scheduled from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22. The event will be held virtually, and registration is required. Click here and choose the Turnaround Houston event to register, or for more information, go to www.houstontx.gov/turnaround.

More than 1,300 jobs will be available at this event. Job seekers can also connect with hiring managers and company representatives, as well as find information about job readiness tools, training and continued education.

Turnaround Houston, which combines the elements of a job fair and a resource center, is a community-based initiative created by Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2016. It is designed to help Houstonians turn their lives around by providing them with vital resources that can assist them with eliminating employment barriers.

“Turnaround Houston will connect job seekers to dozens of hiring employers in many industries, including with the City of Houston,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity, which you can access virtually at no cost.”

Turnaround Houston is held in partnership with the Office of Business Opportunity, the Office of Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz – Houston City Council District D, and Workforce Solutions.

“The City of Houston, along with our partners, remains committed to assisting Houstonians find opportunities for gainful employment. We encourage everyone who is on a job search to sign up for this event,” said OBO Director Marsha E. Murray.