Procurement Conference to offer insight into securing contracts

Eighth District U. S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U. S. Sen. Kit Bond are sponsoring a Procurement Conference on Aug. 8 in cooperation with Southeast Missouri State University's Small Business Development Center, the Small Business Administration, the Missouri Small Business Development Centers and Missouri Procurement Assistance Centers.

The conference will be held in Robert A. Dempster Hall at Southeast Missouri State University. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by an array of guest speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and exhibits provided by government contractors and local, state and federal agencies.

A noon luncheon is included in the day's activities. The conference is open to current business owners and all other interested individuals. Information sessions will run throughout the day.

"The first-ever Southeast Missouri Procurement Conference at Southeast Missouri State University will provide valuable insight into government purchasing practices and how government contracts can expand your business," said Emerson.

A focus of the Procurement Conference will be the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program providing both federal prime contract and subcontract benefits to small business. A HUBZone is a historically underutilized business zone. The program was created by Congress and designed to stimulate economic development by providing federal contracting opportunities to small businesses located in eligible areas.

There are many federally designated HUBZones in Southeast Missouri. As a leader of the Senate Small Business Committee, Senator Bond has fought to get federal agencies to live up to the goal of the Small Business Act and to ensure that small business gets a fair proportion of federal contracting opportunities.

"The HUBZone Program is part of that effort. I hope you will learn everything you can about how this program can help you compete for federal contracts," said Bond.

Buz Sutherland, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast, said, "We are also going to have several sessions to train business owners on topics such as how to develop a winning proposal, how to do business with federal, state and local government agencies, doing business with the government on the Internet, prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses and more.

"Equally important, Southeast Missouri business people will be able to meet face to face with federal and state agencies that buy everything from pencils to jet fighters, and need services ranging from janitorial to nuclear physics."

Guest speakers include a variety of people who have experience in government buying, as well as people who have successfully marketed their goods and services to federal, state and local government agencies.

Remarks on operating a successful small business and taking advantage of the HUBZone Program will be provided by Matt Alexander, president of Matthews Manufacturing Co.

The U. S. government is the number one consumer of goods and services in the world. Government agencies spend billions of dollars annually purchasing goods and services from small businesses. Business owners who want to learn how to make government buyers their clients can find out more at Bond and Emerson's Procurement Conference.

The cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. Advance registration is needed, as seating is limited. Individuals who want to register or need additional information should contact the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University at 573-986-6084 or fax at 573-986-6083.