400 attend annual business procurement conference

More than 400 business owners and contractors had the opportunity to network and meet contracting officers and purchasing agents for local, state, and federal agents during the Sixth Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference on March 23.

“They also received excellent information on how to successfully market their business, as well as, pointers regarding the new Disadvantaged Business Enterprise American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bonding Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program, along with the Small Business Administration Surety Bond Guarantee Program that now guarantees up to $5 million,” said Gloria London, director of the Center for Small and Rural Business Development at the Southern University Ag Center.

This procurement conference brings together potential and existing contractors, entrepreneurs and government agencies for business match making opportunities. “Through this (free event) participants increase their knowledge and skills about business development, contracting and business sustainability,” said Eual Hall, business development specialist with the Center.

Representatives from the United States General Service Administration discussed federal supply schedules, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided pertinent information on food commodity contracting opportunities. The Louisiana State Contractors Licensing Board and the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing presented steps to becoming licensed contractors and participating in other state contracting programs including the Hudson and Veteran initiatives.

The procurement conference is hosted annually by the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center and its Center for Rural and Small Business Development,   Louisiana Small Business Development Center in Baton Rouge, United States Small Business Administration, Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and Louisiana Economic Development.

Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company, Communities of Color Network, USDA Rural Development, Southern University System Foundation, Entergy, DEMCO, and Urban Restoration and Enhancement Corporation were sponsors. 

Next year, this conference will be held on March 29 at Southern University.

Tune in Sunday

Tune in this Sunday, March 21, to 94.1FM at 6pm to hear about the upcoming Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference hosted by the Center for Rural and Small Business Development and U.S. Small Business Administration. The conference begins at 8am on March 23 at the Southern University Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union. 

Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference

Small business owners and contractors are invited to participate in the Sixth Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference, March 23, 2010, at the Southern University Smith Brown Memorial Student Union in Baton Rouge.

The conference continues to bring together potential and existing contractors, entrepreneurs and government agencies in position for business match making. Small enterprises are provided an opportunity to meet contracting officers and purchasing agents.

Attendees will receive information on the new Disadvantaged business Enterprise American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bonding Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program, as well as SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program which can now be guaranteed for up to $5 million. GSA federal supply schedules and USDA food commodity contracting opportunities will be explained. According to organizers, conference participants will also gain a sure-fire plan to finally become proactive in marketing their businesses.

Representatives from the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing will answer questions from individuals on programs like the Hudson and Veteran initiatives, which help small businesses contract with State offices.

The conference is hosted by the Southern University Ag Center, the Center for Rural and Small Business Development, Louisiana Small Business Development Centers in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation.

Registrations forms are available online at http://www.crsbd.com/events/ and be faxed to (337) 482-5837 or e-mailed to prs6182@louisiana.edu.   All registrations must be received by March 18. For more information, call the Small Business Administration at (504) 589-6688.

For more information, contact Gloria London, director, Center for Rural and Small Business Development, or Eual Hall, business development specialist, at (225) 771-2242.

USDA's Hawkins visits SU Ag Center

The Southern University Ag Center welcomed Clarence W. Hawkins, the new Louisiana State Director of USDA Rural Development, to the campus on December 17.  

Hawkins told the crowd that his task "is to pick up the baton and carry on, to change the paradigm, and make the philosophy a reality.  Our task is to change the negative perception of rural communities and it’s just that simple.  I’m serious about accountability and I’m serious about service. Service is the rent I pay to stay here.  We must build co-operations and collaborations.  My hope is that Southern University continues to grow and to serve,” said Hawkins. 

The former Bastrop, Louisiana, mayor was appointed director by President Barack Obama in September 2009. In this capacity, Hawkins is responsible for the direction and delivery of the agency's rural development programs in Louisiana. 

SU Ag Center chancellor Leodrey Williams showed his support, saying, “we must do everything possible to give the people who are qualified and happy to live in rural parishes opportunities to thrive there.” The Southern University community including system president Kassie Freeman along with representatives from the system and community showed their support for Hawkins and USDA. 

Pictured are Southern University Ag Center specialists Eual Hall, Center for Rural and Small Business Development director Gloria London, USDA state director Clarence Hawkins, Southern University Alumni Affairs officer Robyn Merrick, and Ag Center chancellor Leodrey Williams. Photo by Christopher Rogers II.

New resource offered for small businesses

Small business owners can find business start-up information, forms, and success stories online on the new website for the Center for Rural and Small Business Development. Designed by a small business client of the center, the website is user-friendly with a calendar of training events, SBA applications, and IRS forms. Visit the site at www.suagcenter.com.

For more information, contact Gloria London, director, Center for Rural and Small Business Development, at (225) 771-2242 ext. 327 or gloria_london@suagcenter.com or Eual Hall, business development specialist, at eual_hall@suagcenter.com.