HOUSTON, TX (September 14, 2022) - The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community and certifying body for LGBTQ+-owned businesses nationwide, in collaboration with an NGLCC Founding Corporate Partner, Wells Fargo, has chosen Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce to be in its first-ever cohort of affiliated chambers producing innovating programming specifically for the transgender and gender nonconforming (TGX) business communities.

“The NGLCC is proud to expand our collaboration with one of our longest-standing, most trusted partners in LGBT economic opportunity, Wells Fargo. Together we will ensure our transgender and gender-nonconforming entrepreneurs have every resource they need to scale and thrive. Most importantly, we are excited to work closely with our affiliate chamber partners to elevate a new generation of inspiring, ceiling-shattering role models for future TGX business leaders," said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson.

Signature elements of this initiative include:

Pitch Your TGX Business for Success Workshops:

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive business owners are invited to attend a workshop on perfecting your business pitch! We’ll also explain how you can apply to be LGBTBE^® Certified for free after attending this workshop.

TGX Pitch Program

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive business owners are invited to participate in a mock pitch event where they’ll receive constructive feedback from business leaders and Corporate Partner representatives on how to best pitch your TGX-owned business. TGX business owners have the opportunity to apply for LGBTBE Certification and Affiliate Chamber membership for free after attending the event!

“Wells Fargo is proud to expand our support for the transgender and gender expansive small business community in partnership with LGBTQ+ chambers across the country,” said Roby Schapira, Director of Small Business Diverse Customer Segments at Wells Fargo. “This year we are celebrating 30 years of commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, and over these three decades we have provided more than $55 million in financial support and countless volunteer hours to LGBTQ+ organizations including the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). We look forward to working hand in hand with each chamber to bring this program to life and support the participating businesses to achieve new levels of success.”

Wells Fargo will generously endow the participating chambers with support grants to deliver and maximize this initiative. This grant funds innovative local programming for TGX business owners around the country hosted by local NGLCC Affiliate Chambers. It will also provide TGX competency training to all 17 Affiliate Chamber leaders, as well as any of NGLCC’s other 36 (53 total) Affiliate Chamber leaders who would like to participate. Lastly, this program will provide the opportunity for participating transgender and gender-expansive business owners to become both LGBTBE Certified and members of their local Affiliate Chamber, free of charge to them, through the $25,000 scholarship fund provided by Wells Fargo.

“We are proud to partner with the NGLCC and Wells Fargo to increase support for transgender and gender expansive small businesses in the region. This partnership increases the Chamber’s specific focus on the TGX community initiatives that launched this year,” said Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO at the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “This commitment and partnership from the NGLCC and Wells Fargo offer a tremendous opportunity not only to support TGX entrepreneurs but to collaborate with community organizations in the region as well to help lift up these businesses and give them the tools and support they need to succeed.”

The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce will host the TGX Pitch Program on November 2, 2022. TGX entrepreneurs are invited to apply to pitch their business. Learn more about the program at https://bit.ly/3dJAE9n.

To learn more and get involved in this program, please visit nglcc.org or email info@nglcc.org today.

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About NGLCC

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses, known as Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers.

www.nglcc.org

About Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce accelerates economic opportunity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + (LGBTQ+) business community through a strong network of business allies, innovative programs, strategic partnerships and advance policies that foster economic inclusion and equality. Learn more at www.houstonlgbtchamber.com.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortune’s 2021 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.