Minority Business Enterprises remain a powerful component of Houston’s economy, driving growth, creating jobs, and reinforcing the region’s competitive landscape. The 2025 Houston Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Economic Impact Analysis, a collaborative report from the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), reveals substantial gains in business growth, revenue, and employment among minority companies across the ten-county region.
The report analyzes data from HMSDC-certified Minority Business Enterprises—defined as businesses at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by Asian Indian, Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals—using the dataset as a proxy for measuring the broader economic impact of MBEs in the region.
Considerable Gains for Houston’s Minority Businesses
The analysis found that the number of HMSCD-certified MBEs grew 19% from 771 in 2021 to 919 in 2024, while MBEs earning more than $1 million in annual revenue increased by 33%. Collectively, these organizations supported 118,600 jobs—a 58% increase over 2021.
Revenue growth was equally impressive. In 2024, MBEs generated $23.3 billion in revenue, a 180% increase from 2021. Total economic output reached $35.7 billion, contributing 3.5% to Houston’s GDP, nearly doubling its share from 2021.
MBEs also made substantial contributions to public finances. Representing a 280% increase from 2021, they generated $7.2 billion in taxes, including $1 billion locally, $2.1 billion at the state level, and $2.7 billion federally.
“This report makes clear that minority owned businesses are a powerful driver of Houston’s economy. These businesses fuel growth, create jobs, and strengthen our region’s competitiveness,” said LaTanya Flix, senior vice president of inclusive leadership and opportunity at the Greater Houston Partnership. “The progress in our region is one we should celebrate and accelerate. By identifying both the strides we’ve made and the barriers that remain, we can unlock greater opportunity, ensuring every business has the chance to fuel economic growth and shared prosperity.”
Areas for Continued Focus
While the report highlights significant progress, it also identifies opportunities. MBEs operating in health care, agriculture, and public administration sectors reported the lowest average annual revenues, underscoring the need for targeted support.
Additionally, the report notes that while minority businesses are expanding their economic footprint, disparities in representation and opportunity persist. Continued collaboration among corporations, educators, investors, and policymakers remains essential to sustaining and accelerating this growth.
A Shared Path Forward
These findings build upon the ongoing work of the Partnership’s Inclusive Leadership & Opportunity work, which galvanizes the business community to drive change in two key areas: creating pathways for talent advancement and leveraging our collective buying power.
The Partnership and HMSDC are providing actionable data to identify potential suppliers, foster inclusive sourcing strategies, and increase discoverability and access of Houston-region MBEs.
As the data makes clear, Houston’s minority-owned businesses are not only growing—they’re helping define the region’s economic future.
Get Involved: Building Houston’s Future Together
Get involved with the Partnership’s UpSkill Houston & Inclusive Leadership & Opportunity initiatives that allow leaders to connect, develop tools, and share best practices. This makes inclusion a reality for employers and job seekers.
Contact [email protected] to learn more about joining this vital work.