Commissioner Rodney Ellis
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Harris County’s $17M Opportunity Fund: A Game Changer for Small Businesses and Minority Entrepreneurs
Harris County is leveling the playing field for small business owners, especially for women and minority entrepreneurs, with the launch of the $17 million Harris County Opportunity Fund. Spearheaded by Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO) Executive Director Estella Gonzalez, and PeopleFund President and CEO Gustavo Lasala, this groundbreaking program promises to spark a new wave of entrepreneurial growth and economic equity across the region.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis to Spearhead Groundbreaking of Seniors’ Affordable Housing Development
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, in collaboration with the Community Services Department, New Hope Housing, and the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation, is set to lead the groundbreaking ceremony for a groundbreaking multifamily affordable housing development in Precinct One, downtown Houston. The New Hope Ennis development marks a significant step towards addressing housing affordability challenges faced by seniors in the area.
Commissioner Ellis Disappointed Texas Supreme Court reversed Lower Court’s Ruling to Temporarily Prevent the State from Enacting Law Targeting Harris County Elections
Below is Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’s statement on the Texas Supreme Court ruling overturning a lower court’s decision to temporarily ban the state from enacting SB 1750:
Commissioner Ellis’ Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Bar Race-Based Admissions to Colleges
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis issued the following statement on the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions:
About 30 Youth Athletes, Commissioner Ellis, Street Olympics Board Members will Kick Off the Summer Games with Demonstrations of Basketball Dribble, Football Accuracy, Hula Hoop, Jump Rope
‘Street Games’ Competition gives underserved communities equitable access to quality recreation and enrichment programs
About 30 children from two Precinct One community centers will demonstrate so-called street games before Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Street Olympics board members kick off the Summer Games, an Olympic-style competition and enrichment program involving 2,000 youth. During the event, the children will be shown live animals that are part of Precinct One’s Environmental Education Program, which teaches youth about nature and the environment during the Street Olympics Discovery Camp held throughout the summer. The event also will feature youth lighting the Olympic flame that will be extinguished at the Final Event in August.
Harris County Commissioner Ellis, County Judge Hidalgo to Introduce Uplift Harris, an ARPA-Funded Guaranteed Income Program
$20.5M Investment is Part of County’s Broader Strategy to Address Region’s Economic Inequality and Reduce Poverty
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and County Judge Lina Hidalgo will announce the ARPA-funded Uplift Harris, a $20.5 million program that’s part of Harris County’s broader strategy to address the region’s economic inequality and reduce poverty. The family financial stability and income program – a first of its kind for a Texas county -- will provide low-income families with direct, unconditional financial support to meet their basic needs like rent, groceries, transportation, housing and utilities cost, and care.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Will Join Art Community and Downtown Houston Officials in Unveiling Murals
New Murals Bring Total to More than 2 Dozen Pieces of Art on Downtown Buildings that are Part of Big Art. Bigger Change
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Central Houston Inc., Houston Downtown Management District and Street Art for Mankind officials will unveil more murals added to Big Art. Bigger Change., the downtown outdoor art exhibition spanning more than a mile from the Hilton Americas Houston Hotel to the Historic District and another mile from the banks of Buffalo Bayou to south downtown.
Promote Mental Health Awareness Month This May
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when we come together to bring attention to emotional wellness and the importance of seeking support when we need it.
Commissioner Ellis Applauds Expansion of Holistic Assistance Response Team, a Behavioral Health First Responder Program that Exceeded Year 1 Goals and Freed Up Over 1,500 Deputy Hours
Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to expand the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), a program that was piloted last year by Harris County Public Health in collaboration with the Harris County Sherriff’s Office (HCSO).
During National Fair Housing Month, Commissioner Ellis announces $15M investment in affordable, safe, healthy housing
At the start of National Fair Housing Month, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis on Tuesday strongly advocated for Commissioners Court’s approval of a $15 million investment in federal funds for county officials to purchase over 100 single-family homes for affordable housing. Many of these homes will go into the County’s Community Land Trust for long-term affordability.
Commissioner Ellis, County Judge Hidalgo, Labor Leaders to Announce Commissioners Court Will Vote on Apprenticeship Advantage Program
Partnership between county and labor-managed apprenticeship programs will train workers and create career pipelines that connect people to in-demand jobs that offer strong wages and benefits.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Statement on McIngvale Filing Lawsuit Against County Elections Administrator’s Office
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis issued the following comment regarding Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s lawsuit claiming the Elections Administrator’s office refused a request to turn over public records related to the November 2022 elections:
Harris County Commissioner Ellis, Houston Mayor Turner, Sheriff Gonzalez to Announce Houston’s Third Gun Buyback Scheduled Later This Month
Commissioners Court Last Year Approved 8 Buyback Events as a Coordinated Effort to Reduce Violent Crime
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez will announce that they will host a gun buyback on Feb. 18 at Deussen Park. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also will attend the news conference.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Statement on Video of Tyre Nichols’ Beating
Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Statement on Video of Tyre Nichols’ Beating
Maternal Health Continues to be an Urgent Crisis in Harris County
Maternal Health Awareness Day is January 23 – A call to action to improve maternal health
January 23 is Maternal Health Awareness Day, a day in which Harris County Public Health (HCPH) highlights the urgent maternal and infant health crisis in the county and what Harris County is doing to combat that crisis. HCPH reminds families about the importance of knowing their risk and the many preventive steps that can be taken to ensure healthier outcomes.
Harris County Commissioners Court Approves an Internal Climate Action Plan to Reduce the County’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 40% in the 4th Largest County in the Country
Harris County Commissioners Court at its first meeting of the new year took a critical step in the global fight against climate change by approving an internal climate action plan that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from county operations by 40% by 2030.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis Comments on Resolution City, County and TxDOT Reached on I-45 Expansion
Today, the City of Houston, Harris County and The Texas Department of Transportation are announcing a resolution of disputes over the I-45 expansion project, including Harris County’s lawsuit and Mayor Turner’s objection to the project.
Harris County Commissioners Ellis, Garcia Ask Federal Officials to Monitor County’s Elections Letter to U.S. Justice Department Says State Law and Tactics have ‘Disproportionate Impact on Voters of C
Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia have asked federal officials to monitor the County’s midterm elections because Texas leaders plan to send a “task force” to monitor polling places as well as other concerns of voter intimidation.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Statement on Commissioners Cagle and Ramsey Forcing County to Adopt No New Revenue Rate
“The consequences of adopting the No New Revenue Rate are truly dire. It forces tens of millions in cuts to life-saving health care services; throws way $100 million for law enforcement; delays urgent flood control projects; denies investments to strengthen economic opportunity; and jeopardizes other vital services that families depend on to weather tough times and build a better life.
Harris County Commissioner Ellis, Sheldon Community Members to Host Ceremony to Officially Open $1.6 Million Bridge that Improves Mobility and Pedestrian Safety
Residents Requested Bridge Construction to Alleviate Speeding Traffic that Cuts Through Neighborhood
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Sheldon community members will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the Van Hut Lane bridge that nearby residents asked Precinct One to build to improve mobility and pedestrian safety.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Sheriff’s Office to Announce Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) has Responded to Nearly 1,000 911 Calls
Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief Mike Lee say the Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART) – which in February started responding to 911 calls related to mental health, social welfare, homelessness and other health-based matters – is reaching a historic milestone of being dispatched to 1,000 calls.
Residents Turn in 1,200 Guns During Most Successful Gun Buyback Event in Recent U.S. History
Event Held in Alief Co-sponsored by Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he’s proud that hundreds of residents turned in 1,200 guns for gift cards on Saturday in what officials billed as the most successful single-day Gun Buyback in recent U.S. history.
Commissioner Ellis Spearheads Commissioners Court Approval of $4M for Legal Assistance to Help People Facing Evictions
With the backing of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved $4 million in funding for the Housing Legal Services Initiative that will provide assistance for low-income residents facing evictions.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Statement on Commissioners Cagle and Ramsey’s walking out on Tuesday’s Commissioners Court
Today, Republican Harris County Commissioners Ramsey and Cagle skipped Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting, preventing the Democratic majority from adopting a tax rate and budget that best serves Harris County. In response, Commissioner Ellis issued the following statement:
Commissioner Rodney Ellis Disagrees with Gov. Abbott’s Comments Claiming Harris County has Defunded Law Enforcement
Abbott’s Statement is ‘Politically Timed Stunt’
This politically timed stunt is part of Greg Abbott’s ongoing assault on Harris County, and deception is the weapon of choice. Truth is the best defense against a dangerous lie, so here’s the truth:
Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Street Olympics Board Members to Host Final Event Featuring 1,200 Youth Athletes Competing in Street Games like Hula Hoop, Jump Rope and Foot Races
Games Help Improve Youth’s Confidence, Self-esteem and Leadership Abilities
Youth athletes from 55 agencies participating in the Harris County Street Olympics Summer Games will vie for medals on Friday, August 5 at the Final Event, which features exciting competition in so-called street games hosted by the nonprofit organization and Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis Announces Ford Foundation Grant to Help Design Precinct One’s Remembrance Park
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis has announced that the Ford Foundation has given a grant to MASS (Model of Architecture Serving Society) Design Group for design of Precinct One’s Remembrance Park, a new public destination in downtown Houston for community reflection, education, organizing, and activism around issues of social, criminal, economic and racial justice.
Commissioner Ellis’ Statement in Support of Congress Members’ Call to the Justice Department for Help Regarding Mail Ballots in Texas
Voting is a sacred right and among the most important hallmarks of our democracy. In Harris County, the State of Texas, and the nation, we have seen these fundamental rights stripped away from people.
