The Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce’s financial strength increased last year with new community partnerships and corporate sponsorships as the group tackled obstacles to government contracts.
The chamber’s annual revenue rose from about $250,000 in 2021 to $890,000 in 2025, president and CEO Michelle Green-Ford said during the organization’s annual meeting March 26 at Texas Wesleyan University.
“I’m excited about the chamber and where we’re going in 2026,” she said.
The chamber rebounded from “crisis mode” after uncertainty emerged when state and local leaders ended programs that dropped goals to hire women- and minority-owned firms, Green-Ford said.
“In 2025, everything that we focused on was challenged,” she said. “Everything that we were working on had the possibility of changing. We were struggling with, ‘Would we have contracts?’ ‘Would it be legal?’ We were struggling with who would stay with us as partners as we pursued the work of economic development for our small businesses.”
Green-Ford said she was inspired by the words of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
“I basically said, ‘This is the time, not for apathy, but for vigorous and positive action,’” she said, paraphrasing King. “I want to let you know that this board (and) staff did exactly that. We went to work in 2025.”
The chamber was “focused and strategic” after the City Council suspended DEI initiatives to comply with federal orders. Fort Worth receives about $40.6 million in federal funds annually.
Officials replaced that program with Small Business Enterprise goals for city projects with input from local chambers. Companies, both large and small, certified as a small business enterprise are eligible for a 5% bid preference on contracts up to $100,000. For contracts over $100,000, the city has a 30% utilization target.
The new certification gives businesses access to bid opportunities and makes connections to resources, training, mentorship and matchmaking support easier, city officials said.
Meanwhile, a lawsuit is underway after acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock issued emergency rules that changed the state’s Historically Underutilized Business Certification program in December.
Despite anxiety about government contracts, the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce helped local businesses earn more work.
A chart shows the impact of work by the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
City contracts for minority- and women-owned firms increased from about $100,000 in 2021 to $270,000 in 2025, Green-Ford said.
“We have to go forward, and we cannot let the vision to support our minority- and women-owned businesses fall — and we haven’t done that,” she said. “So let’s go!”
The chamber’s membership grew in 2025 to include members from seven states, 53 cities and 143 ZIP codes.
“We’re very diverse in what we’re providing,” she said.
The group expanded its presence in Texas to include support and grand openings in the Tarrant County area and beyond, including in Austin, Green-Ford said.
Improving the chamber’s access to capital was vital, Green-Ford said. The chamber added five new financial institutions as corporate partners for a total of 20. That’s up from five or six banks four years ago, she noted.
Last year, platinum-level sponsors increased from financial institutions that told chamber officials they want to serve the community, Green-Ford said.
The chamber’s partnerships with universities also increased to include Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Tarleton State University, which recently opened a campus in southwest Fort Worth.
The organization maintains its relationship with TCU, which provided six full-time scholarships for masters of business administration graduate students. Each scholarship is worth about $150,000.
Green-Ford said a similar MBA scholarship is offered by the University of Texas at Arlington’s Fort Worth campus. “We’re working on that with UTA Fort Worth,” she said.
Another scholarship is available through Texas Wesleyan University.
“That foundation of education has continued,” Green-Ford said.
The chamber has a leadership development program and increased signature events to include the SneakerBall gala. An aeronautics program with Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is under development.
The chamber’s annual luncheon saw attendance nearly double — from 500 to 900 in 2025.
Ty Stimpson, chairman of the metropolitan chamber, said Green-Ford had a successful year despite health challenges within her family.
“You never thought that anything was wrong,” he said. “She never missed a beat.”
Chamber membership also impacted attendance at the annual Cowboys of Color Rodeo, which is held during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo each winter. The 2026 event, bolstered by high attendance and a performance by the Dunbar High School band, realized a 95% increase in revenue, Green-Ford said.
“That’s the kind of thing that gets the attention of our city leaders to say this chamber is relevant and they’re making a difference,” she said. “And we’re just getting started. Expect more.”
Added Stimpson: “The future is bright.”
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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