Government Resources

2007 Economic Census
The Economic Census profiles the US economy every 5 years, from the national to the local level

2009 Statistical Abstract
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States.

4 Steps to Starting a Business
Start here to find information on the requirements to start a new business in Texas. The four steps cover your legal structure, tax responsibilities, licenses and permits, and employer requirements.

American FactFinder
Provides users with the capability to browse, search, and map data from many Census Bureau sources: either the 1990 or 2000 Census, the 1997 Economic Census, and the American Community Survey.

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Promotes a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic accounts data in an objective and cost-effective manner. BEA is one of the world's leading statistical agencies. Although it is a relatively small agency, BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence the decisions made by government officials, business people, households, and individuals. BEA's economic statistics, which provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy, are key ingredients in critical decisions affecting monetary policy, tax and budget projections, and business investment plans.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
BLS is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor.

Business.gov
Business.gov helps small businesses understand their legal requirements, and locate government services supporting the nation’s small business community

Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
CCR is the primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions.

CenStats
Demographic and economic information through currently available databases which includes Building Permits, County Business Patterns, Census Tract Street Locator, International Trade Data, USA County, Detailed Occupation and more.

Census Bureau
The Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy.

County Business Patterns
County Business Patterns is an annual series that provides subnational economic data by industry. The series is useful for studying the economic activity of small areas; analyzing economic changes over time; and as a benchmark for statistical series, surveys, and databases between economic censuses. Businesses use the data for analyzing market potential, measuring the effectiveness of sales and advertising programs, setting sales quotas, and developing budgets. Government agencies use the data for administration and planning.

Envirofacts
This website provides access to several EPA databases to provide you with information about environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States. With Envirofacts, you can learn more about these environmental activities in your area or you can generate maps of environmental information.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Where You Live
Search EPA databases to learn more about environmental conditions in your community.

FedBizOpps
FedBizOpps.gov is the single government point-of-entry (GPE) for Federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. Government buyers are able to publicize their business opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the Internet. Through one portal - FedBizOpps (FBO) - commercial vendors seeking Federal markets for their products and services can search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
As a consumer or business person, you may be more familiar with the work of the Federal Trade Commission than you think. The FTC deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy.

FFIEC Geo-coding System
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council provides demographic information by MSA, state, county, and census tract/BNA codes for street addresses that is useful for obtaining population and income data.

IRS: Small Business/Self-Employed
Small business and self-employed one-stop resource

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. NAICS was adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. Both provide a keyword search option for finding your industry code and description.

National Compensation Survey
The National Compensation Survey (NCS) program produces information on wages by occupation for many metropolitan areas and also for the nation as a whole. Wage rates for different work levels within occupational groups also are published. Data are available for private industry, State and local governments, full-time workers, part-time workers, and other workforce categories.

Occupational Employment Statistics
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates for over 700 occupations. These are estimates of the number of people employed in certain occupations, and estimates of the wages paid to them. Self-employed persons are not included in the estimates. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual States, and for metropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
For hundreds of different types of jobs the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Securities and Exchange Commission: Information for Small Businesses
This page provides shortcuts to information on government regulations regarding the sale of securities by smaller companies and financial and other reporting for publicly traded smaller companies.

Texas Corporation Search
Search by company name, file number or tax ID number for a corporation or LLC operating in Texas.

Texas Counties 4U
View a list of all the Texas Counties to find an official county web site. Move your cursor over the counties in the map to reveal the name of each county. Clicking on a county will open the county government maintained website in a new window (if one exists). 

Texas Secretary of State
From the homepage, mouse over Corporations in the top menu for a list of resources and information related to receipt, filing and permanent maintenance and retention of documents that create or affect business organizations and non-profit entities, which are required by statute to be filed with the secretary of state. The Section also provides information by telephone and email regarding those documents, and it provides plain and certified copies upon request. Although most documents are submitted by fax and mail, the Section is now filing an increasing number of electronic documents over the world wide web.

Texas Workforce Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state government agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. For employers, TWC offers recruiting, retention, training and retraining, and outplacement services as well as valuable information on labor law and labor market statistics. For job seekers, TWC offers career development information, job search resources, training programs, and, as appropriate, unemployment benefits. While targeted populations receive intensive assistance to overcome barriers to employment all Texans can benefit from the services offered by TWC and our network of workforce partners.

TRACER: Texas Labor Market Information
The Labor Market & Career Information Department (LMCI) of the Texas Workforce Commission provides statistics and analyses on the dynamics of the Texas labor market and informational products designed to support informed educational and career decisions. In addition, LMCI provides a wide array of career and occupational information through software programs and printed publications.