Super Bowl Host Committee helps businesses prepare for game day boom

ALVIN, TX (KTRK) -- In a non-descript warehouse along Highway 35 in Alvin, a small business is furiously working in advance of Houston's biggest event in some time: Super Bowl 51.

"I instantly knew that this could bring dollars to our small minority-owned company, but I didn't know how we were going to bring that together," explained Sonya Stutzman of Communikay Graphics. She found the answer through the Super Bowl Host Committee's Business Connect program.

Communikay is one of more than 400 Houston-area businesses vetted by the Business Connect program and recommended to vendors.

On the day ABC13 made a visit to the print shop, Communikay was busy creating promotional materials for conveniences stores. The print work, which is directly related to the big game, has made a huge difference in Communikay's work load.

SEE MORE: Downtown Houston preps for Super Bowl

"We're forecasting to double our month in business compared to last January, which is fantastic. It's essentially like adding another month in our year," said vice president of sales Joe Crowley.

He's keenly aware of what that means to their employees.

"It's the overtime, we love paying overtime. We love extra hours in a month, paying employees, it makes differences in their homes, allowing them to pay bills and get ahead," said Crowley.

According to Stutzman, it may also help the company get ahead.

"There's the Bass Masters, the Rodeo, and hopefully this will help us gain recognition," said Stutzman.

That's also the goal of the Host Committee. LaMecia Butler is the Host Committee's director of community relations, and says these businesses applied to the NFL's supplier diversity program about 14 months in advance of the Super Bowl and are focused on growing their client base in addition to taking part in a world class event.

"It's really about preparing those businesses so they move further along beyond the Super Bowl, when we talk about leaving a legacy we're talking about the business community as well," said Butler.