During National Small Business Week, May 2-5, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the kickoff of the 2022 Governor’s Small Business Series to be held in-person in communities around the state, beginning in El Paso on May 5. The series comes to Fort Worth on June 9.
The annual Governor’s Small Business Series connects small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business.
“Small businesses drive our state’s booming economy,” Abbott said. “Already home to three million small businesses that employ nearly half of the Texas workforce, our state is focused on developing an environment where entrepreneurs have the freedom to aspire, grow and prosper. I look forward to continue working with small businesses and communities in every region of the state to ensure they have the tools needed to succeed.”
The Governor’s Small Business Series provides Texas small-business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who can share timely, relevant, actionable advice on a multitude of small business topics.
Movies That Matter, a film series program of the City of Fort Worth’s Human Relations Commission, will present Woman on Fire at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St.
Admission is free. Make reservations online.
This portrait of courage under fire celebrates New York City’s first openly transgender firefighter. For Brooke Guinan, fighting fires runs in her blood – both her father and grandfather served in the FDNY. But as a transgender woman, her path to service has not been without obstacles. Transitioning from male to female in what is still an overwhelmingly macho profession proves a challenge for her coworkers and her family, while her boyfriend reckons with the impact of Brooke’s newly public profile on his parents.
View a trailer.
Movies That Matter was created in 2010 as a way to create awareness in the community about human rights issues affecting people in Fort Worth and worldwide. The series presents human rights-related film screenings and moderated discussions. The program is managed by the Diversity & Inclusion Department.
The Fort Worth Police Department and the Fort Worth Police Officers Association invite residents to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice at the annual Peace Officers Memorial Service.
The service will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at the Police and Firefighters Memorial, 2201 W. Seventh St.
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden | Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG|BRIT) invites public participation in a Master Plan Committee meeting May 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. when an initial concept for the master plan design will be revealed.
The consultant team for the master plan led by landscape architecture firm Studio Outside has gathered input from the committee, staff members, and the general public for the future of the FWBG|BRIT campus. Based on compilation of this data, the team will present their findings and a proposed design that will inform the direction and priorities for the next 20 years of infrastructure and facility improvements across the 120-acre campus.
After a presentation, attendees are invited to provide comment in a conversational format with a dedicated staff member or via a comment card.
The meeting will take place in the Garden Center Lecture Hall located at 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107. For more information on the Master Planning effort visit: fwbg.org/masterplan
Join the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor to learn about the progress the office has made over the past two years and to hear answers to your questions.
Choose from two dates:
Topics will include the 2020-21 Inaugural Biennial Report, a new online interactive complaint form, the 28th annual National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Conference, and a question-and-answer session.
To learn more, contact the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor by email or at 817-392-6535.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments will host a hybrid virtual and in-person meeting to gain residents’ input on regional transportation initiatives.
The meeting will be at noon on Monday, May 9, at NCTCOG headquarters, 616 Six Flags Drive in Arlington. Attend in person or attend the meeting via phone by dialing 855-925-2801, then code 6341.
These are the presentations:
Mobility 2045 Update and 2022 Transportation Conformity. One of the primary responsibilities of a Metropolitan Planning Organization is the development and maintenance of a Metropolitan Transportation Plan. NCTCOG staff has initiated the development of an update to the current Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Mobility 2045, and will provide an overview of the draft plan materials.
Proposed awards from EV charging station call for projects. Staff will give an update on funding recommendations from the NCTCOG Electric Vehicle Charging Station Call for Projects April 22 application deadline.
AV2.1: Preparing for Emerging Transportation Technology with Local Partners. In 2021, work began on NCTCOG’s regional planning exercise looking at future mobility development in the region — AV2.1: Planning for Local Partners. https://www.connectntxfutures.org/ In May, NCTCOG staff will present an update on the status of the project, including information about early scenario development efforts, public outreach initiatives and educational materials in development for interested school districts.
East/west funding formula update. With the passage of each new transportation funding bill, the funding distributions between the eastern and western portions of the Dallas-Fort Worth region are re-evaluated. An overview of the process for establishing the funding split and the proposed new splits for both mobility and air quality funds will be provided for review and comment.
2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program. The Transportation Improvement Program is a federally and state-mandated list of transportation projects with committed federal, state and local funding in a four-year period. Staff will present an overview of the Transportation Improvement Program development process and provide a final list of projects with funding in FY 2023-2026 and the Transportation Improvement Program document for review and comment.
Parking garage policy and projects. NCTCOG staff has been working with several cities across the region on funding partnerships for parking garages in proximity to transit stations. An overview of the proposed policy pertaining to parking garage funding requests along with proposed projects will be presented for review and comment.
To request a free roundtrip ride between NCTCOG and the Trinity Railway Express CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, call 817-704-2510 or email at least 72 hours before the meeting.
The Fort Worth City Council work session will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, in Room 2020 at City Hall, 200 Texas St.
Watch the meeting live on Fort Worth TV, either online or on TV. You can also watch the meeting via the Fort Worth TV video library and on the city’s YouTube channel.
Other May 3 Council meetings:
After a national search, Leann Guzman has been named Fort Worth’s next city attorney. She joined the City Attorney’s Office in March 2004 as a prosecuting attorney. City Council will appoint her at its next meeting on May 10.
“Leann is a trusted confidant, savvy problem solver and dedicated professional with more than 18 years spent diligently serving our city,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said. “She has a deep knowledge and experience addressing the issues Fort Worth faces and a sharp legal expertise, and I look forward to having her continue to serve Fort Worth as city attorney.”
In June 2005, Guzman moved into the Transactional Division, where she has provided advice and guidance to City Council, city boards and commissions and city staff on a variety of issues. She also served as section chief of the Real Estate and City Facilities Section of the City Attorney’s Office from 2013 until becoming deputy city attorney of the Transactional Division in August 2020. She serves as general counsel to the Fort Worth Local Development Corp. and the Central City Local Government Corp.
Guzman has been a member of various organizations, including Government Lawyers Section, State Bar of Texas; International Municipal Lawyers Association; Texas City Attorneys Association; and the Tarrant County Bar Association.
She attained a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1998 and her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001.
“I’m deeply honored to be selected as the next city attorney for Fort Worth and am excited for the opportunity to serve in this role,” Guzman said. “Great things are ahead for the city, and I look forward to leading the strong team in the City Attorney’s Office into a bright future.”
Guzman replaces Sarah Fullenwider, who served as city attorney from 2011 through 2021. Fullenwider was the city’s first female city attorney.
Think you can solve a historic Fort Worth murder mystery? Try your hand at playing detective by examining the evidence and interviewing suspects to nab the killer during Fort Worth’s Log Cabin Village Midsummer Murder Mystery event, from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, June 25.
Prizes will be awarded to detectives who correctly solve the 19th-century mystery.
Due to the nature of the evidence presented, this event is for sleuths 16 years and older. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. During registration, select either the 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. time slot. The event is come-and-go at your own pace.
Space is limited and registration is required. The fee is $20 per participant if registering before June 3, or $25 after June 3. The fee includes admission to Log Cabin Village. Register online or call 817-392-5881.
To learn more about the event, contact Shae Nawoj, assistant historic site supervisor, by email or at 817-392-6768.
Today, Fort Worth becomes the first city government in the United States to mine Bitcoin. This pilot program, launched by the Office of Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and the City of Fort Worth in partnership with Texas Blockchain Council, recognizes the exponential growth of the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while advancing Fort Worth’s goal of becoming a leading center of tech and innovation.
Beginning today, the S9 Bitcoin mining machines will run 24/7 in the climate-controlled Information Technology Solutions Department Data Center located at Fort Worth City Hall, where they will be housed on a private network to minimize security risk. The program is made possible through the donation of three machines from Texas Blockchain Council, a nonprofit association made up of companies and individuals that work in Bitcoin, Bitcoin mining, crypto and blockchain industries. The donation was formally accepted by the Fort Worth City Council today.
“With blockchain technology and cryptocurrency revolutionizing the financial landscape, we want to transform Fort Worth into a tech-friendly city,” Parker said. “Today, with the support and partnership of Texas Blockchain Council, we’re stepping into that world on a small scale while sending a big message – Fort Worth is where the future begins,” the mayor added. “These small but powerful machines mark Fort Worth’s larger commitment to becoming a leading hub for technology and innovation.”
“The Texas Blockchain Council is thrilled to be part of this first-of-its-kind pilot program as the City of Fort Worth begins mining Bitcoin. By starting small to learn as they go, Fort Worth is positioning itself to be the bitcoin mining capital of Texas. The state as a whole has already established itself as the bitcoin mining capital of the world,” said President and Founder of Texas Blockchain Council Lee Bratcher. “We are grateful for the support of several of our member companies, specifically, Luxor Technologies and Rhodium Enterprises, as they provided strategic guidance for this project.”
Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation. “Mining” is performed using sophisticated hardware that solves an extremely complex computational math problem. The first computer to find the solution to the problem receives the next block of bitcoins and the process begins again.
By limiting the pilot program’s focus to three machines, the city achieves the goals of responsibly assessing and executing a municipal Bitcoin mining program at a manageable scale. After six months, the city will evaluate the program.
Based on the number and type of machines being used, the city estimates each will consume the same amount of energy as a household vacuum cleaner. The nominal amount of energy needed for the program is expected to be offset by the value of Bitcoin mined. Keeping the pilot program small enables the city to learn the potential impact and opportunities for Bitcoin.
“Texas is increasingly being recognized as the global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain, and Fort Worth will have a seat at that table,” said Fort Worth Director of Economic Development Robert Sturns. “The pioneering spirit is alive and well in Fort Worth, and with this program we will attract dynamic companies that share in this vision for the future.”
The program is part of Fort Worth’s larger plan for growth, building momentum onto recent efforts, including partnerships with Texas A&M University System’s planned Research and Innovation Center in downtown Fort Worth and Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth Accelerator, and establishing the city’s first Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council Committee to build a next-level entrepreneurship ecosystem.
In the Economic Development Strategic Plan of the City of Fort Worth adopted by City Council, the city has set a goal of “a ‘next-level’ economic development strategy must encourage innovation and creativity, build an environment that is attractive to talented individuals and dynamic businesses, and maintain a forward-looking organizational structure.”
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