Federal contracting programs for small businesses
Aug. 12, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- At a Western Michigan University workshop Wednesday, Aug. 21, officials from the Small Business Administration will outline federal contracting programs available to small businesses.
Sponsored in part by Western Michigan University's Southwest Michigan Technical Assistance Center, the Government Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development Workshop for Small Businesses will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce Building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. for the event, which is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. Information can be obtained by contacting Janice Campbell at (269) 387-2005 or <janice.campbell@wmich.edu>.
Jackie Hart and Pamela Thompson of the Small Business Administration will lead the workshop. They will discuss federal contracting programs for small businesses, eligibility criteria that must be met and other SBA programs and resources. The workshop is aimed at small business owners interested in selling products or services to the federal government, including women-owned businesses and those interested in becoming certified as small disadvantaged businesses.
In addition to WMU's Southwest Michigan TAC, workshop sponsors include the Small Business Administration, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Under the umbrella of WMU's Haworth College of Business and its Office of Business Development Services, the Southwest Michigan Technical Assistance Center offers free assistance to area companies interested in doing business with the government. Annually, center director Michael Black and his staff help businesses secure more than $28 million in government contracts.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu