Josh Daspit, Ph.D.
Department of Management
McCoy College of Business
SCALEUP & the Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards
Background:
Dr. Daspit studies entrepreneurship in family businesses, minority businesses, and small and medium-sized business enterprises. He directs the SCALEUP program, which is a university-wide initiative to increase the growth of minority businesses in Texas and beyond.
Faculty Fellows Project:
Dr. Daspit worked closely with THRC to launch the Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards. The awards provided a mechanism to foster a network of small businesses to participate in SCALEUP research, engage small businesses owners throughout the state in conversations about economic resilience, and position TXST as a hub for small business resilience and related resources.
Project Outcomes
The Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards
The GRIT Awards resulted in nearly 100 nominations, 28 finalists, 7 winners, and a resilience network of over 40 small businesses from across Texas.
GRIT Awards Showcase
The GRIT Awards Showcase was held on April 25, 2023, to celebrate and learn from the GRIT awardees about best practices for resilience.
Small Business Resilience Research Network
Villagran, M., & Daspit, J. J. (2023). Community network building through research. Health+Resilience Research Network, San Marcos, Texas.
Schneider, J., & Daspit, J. J. (2023). How to develop a network of enthusiastic research participants: The Great Resilience In Texas (GRIT) Awards. Poster presented at the Health Scholar Showcase, Translational Health Research Center, San Marcos, Texas.
THRC is also developing a small business telementoring program in collaboration with Dr. Daspit to engage and expand the small business resilience network established during the GRIT Awards.
Check back in Fall 2024 for more details!
Press and Publications
San Antonio-born Texas Tito's honored by TXST health center for resilience through pandemic - San Antonio Express News
“THRC & SCALEUP: Fostering Economic Resilience through the Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards” - TXST Division of Research (No longer available)
GRIT Awards - Library Developments Blog - Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Nominate a Small Business - Library Developments Blog - Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Nominate a Small Business for a GRIT (Great Resilience in Texas) Award Today! - New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce
GRIT Awards Showcase - San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (No longer available)
First Annual GRIT Awards Showcase - Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
Small Businesses Across Texas Are Invited to the Inaugural Grit Awards Showcase April 25 - TXST Newsroom
GRIT Awards Recognize Resilience of Small Businesses in Texas - TXST Newsroom
Achieve Integrative Health wins Award for Excellence in Resilience at the first Annual GRIT Awards - PR Log
Texas State University receives grant to help minority-owned businesses - NBC 5 DFW. (TV interview aired December 20, 2022.)
Dissemination of SCALEUP Research
Daspit, J. J., Wan, M., Konopaske, R., Anderson, S., López, O. S. (2022). Insights on minority business growth: A report on the growth-related challenges experienced by minority-owned businesses in Texas. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
Daspit, J. J., Wan, M., Anderson, S. T., Konopaske, R., López, O. S., & Silva, J. (2023). Insights on minority-owned business growth: Identifying primary challenges and proposing pathways for advancement. McCoy College of Business Research Symposium. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas