Women and minority business owners invited to workshop
April 23, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Women and minority entrepreneurs are invited to a free informational workshop Monday, May 12, at Western Michigan University to learn about doing business with public entities.
"Continuing to Work Together: Doing Business With the Public Sector" will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. in WMU's Fetzer Center. Those interested are asked to RSVP by Wednesday, May 7, by contacting Amy Campbell at (269) 337-8020 or <campbella@kalamazoocity.org>.
"One goal of this event is to continue the dialogue initiated at a similar workshop last year," says Joe L. Todd, assistant purchasing director for the city of Kalamazoo, which is co-sponsoring the event along with WMU and 10 other organizations. "We want to help the owners of minority and women business enterprises understand public sector policies and procedures, as well as identify any roadblocks to their participation in public-sector bidding."
Participants will have a chance to speak one-on-one with public purchasers to identify ways to improve opportunities for minority and women entrepreneurs. Public sector buyers will be prepared to discuss current and upcoming bidding opportunities at their institutions as well as policies and procedures.
In addition to WMU and the city of Kalamazoo, the event is being co-sponsored by the city of Portage, Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Kalamazoo and Portage public schools, the Kalamazoo County Road Commission, Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works! of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, the Metropolitan Branch of the NAACP and the Minority Business Alliance of Southwest Michigan.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu