What you need to know
Pearland City Council voted unanimously to award an $888,666 contract over three years to the Pearland Chamber of Commerce to operate the Pearland Innovation Hub, which provides resources to local small businesses through September 2028, according to agenda documents.
Pearland Economic Development Corporation launched the PIH in 2022 to provide resources, mentorship and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses, according to the hub’s website.
The backstory
The PEDC originally chose The Cannon, a Houston-based business incubator, to manage the PIH. However, the PEDC terminated its contract with The Cannon in June and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce assumed management, according to agenda documents.
Since the chamber took over, PIH membership has grown by 147%, yet the PIH has still struggled to meet some of its goals for business creation, according to agenda documents.
For example, in 2025, it aimed to help create six businesses, yet only created two. In 2026, it hopes to help create five businesses.
What they’re saying
Several Pearland business owners, who had used PIH services, asked City Council to continue to fund the hub and said it had helped them start and scale their businesses.
Kim Hatton, owner of AB Clean, a commercial cleaning company founded in 2016, said after working with the PIH she was able to increase sales by 7%, reduce labor costs by 20% and boost her profit margin to 40%.
“This kind of transformation is what’s possible when small businesses get targeted expert support,” Hatton said.
Marilyn Ramirez Segundo, founder of Yellow Apron Baking Company, won $5,000 at a business pitch competition the PIH hosted May 5. She said the most significant value for her was the feedback she received from experts at the competition.
“PIH didn’t just give me a stage—they gave me confidence, strategy, resources, feedback, visibility and a network I didn’t even know I needed,” Segundo said.
Another point of view
Council members Layni Cade and Rushi Patel, who voted to fund the PIH, said they previously were skeptical about the PIH's performance. However, after reviewing updated performance metrics and listening to testimonials from business owners, they felt it was a good investment for Pearland.
What else?
The funds will be released to the chamber to manage services that support Pearland small businesses and be paid out monthly, which amounts to an estimated $296,222 per year, according to agenda documents.
