Contracts for veteran-owned businesses
June 4, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Since 1999, federal agencies have aimed to award at least 3 percent of all contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. Representatives from such companies are invited to a June 12 workshop to learn how they can do more business with the government.
Sponsored in part by Western Michigan University's Southwest Michigan Technical Assistance Center, the Veterans Small Business Conference will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Best Western Midway Hotel in Lansing, Mich. Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the event, which is open to the public. The cost to attend is $35 per person, and a special overnight room rate is available through the host hotel. Reservations are required by June 3, and can be made by calling (517) 788-4680.
The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 requires federal agencies to have a goal to award at least 3 percent of procurement dollars to veteran-owned businesses. The workshop will include an overview of the program to boost veteran participation in government contracting and a chance for participants to meet one-on-one with representatives from federal agencies. Invited agencies include the Small Business Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Correctional Institution and the U.S. Postal Service.
In addition to the Southwest Michigan TAC, the workshop is sponsored by the Michigan Technical Assistance Centers and the U.S. Veterans Administration.
Under the umbrella of WMU's Haworth College of Business and its Office of Business Development Services, the Southwest Michigan Technical Assistance Center offers free assistance to area companies interested in doing business with the government. Annually, center director Michael Black and his staff help businesses secure more than $28 million in government contracts.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu