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.

Louisiana Lead encourages participation in annual conference

Our friends at Lead Louisiana have encouraged their friends to attend next week's Fifth Annual Procurement Conference, "Connecting Businesses with Contracts," at the Southern University Smith-Brown Memorial Union, March 24. 

For more information on the conference visit www.suagcenter.com or read the Lead Louisiana blog at  leadlouisiana.blogspot.com

Thank you, Lead Louisiana.

5th Annual 'Connecting Business with Contracts' Procurement Conference

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

7:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Southern University A & M College Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union Cotillion Ballroom Baton Rouge, LA

http://www.crsbd.com/events/registration/

This meeting will give small business owners an opportunity to meet contracting officers and purchasing agents; sell your products and services to private industry, federal and state goverments.

 

Workshops include:

• Marketing
  
• Financial Management
  
• The Future of Small Business Contracting
  
• 2009 Contracting Opportuninties
  
• Procurement Discussion Panel
  

Pre-Registration is Required. To Register online click here: http://www.crsbd.com/events/registration/

To print a registration form click here: : http://www.crsbd.com/events/docs/2009%20Participant%20Registration%20Form.pdf

For information please call (504) 589-2756 or (504) 589-6688 or fax your registration to (337) 484-5837 or email (prs6182@louisiana.edu) not later than March 20, 2009. For other inquiries, visit http://www.suagcenter.com/ or http://www.crsbd.com/.

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