Ag Center brings fifth annual procurement conference

Individuals, potential and existing business owners who are contractors, or non-profits in small towns and municipalities can learn how to contract with the state of Louisiana, federal agencies and other businesses at the Center for Rural and Small Business Development's fifth annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Opportunities Conference, Tuesday, March 24 in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.

Workshops begin at 9 a.m. with topics on successfully managing your business, improving presentation and marketing skills, and contracting with others. Several of the sessions will be held concurrently but will be repeated in order to allow participants to attend all sessions.

Shaw Group vice president Matthew Butler will be the luncheon keynote speaker. Online registration at www.http://www.crsbd.com/events/registration/ is required to attend this free conference.

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration will discuss its SBA programs, guarantees, certification process, bonds and surety and GO and disaster loans.

The Louisiana State Contracting and Licensing Department will have representatives available to assist conference attendees who want to become licensed, or who are already licensed but want to increase their knowledge.

Other sponsors for the conference are Southern University Ag Center, the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, Louisiana Small Business Development Centers in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Exhibitors for the conference include: Shaw Environmental Infrastructure Group, Entergy Corporation, U.S. Army, New Orleans District Corps of Engineers; FEMA; USDA Rural Development; Textron Marine and Land; Ameriplan; Operation Hope; Alcatec, LLC; Louisiana National Guard; Department of the Navy; Louisiana State Office of Purchasing; Baton Rouge City Purchasing; Today’s Money Makers; Louisiana Secretary of State Office; Small Business Transportation Resource Center/U.S. DOT; Brown and Brown Insurance, Picerne Military Housing, CAMTRACO and others.

For more information, call Gloria London at (225) 771-2242; or email gloria_london@suagcenter.com