Southwest small business owners will have an opportunity in September to learn how to grow and support their businesses by partnering with USDA and the Department of Interior (DOI).
The meeting, in New Mexico, supports the White House Initiative on Small Business Contracting.
Earlier this week, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan invited small businesses to participate in educational workshops and networking sessions on how to do business with USDA and other Federal Departments. Some topics include acquisition needs and opportunities, prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities, business development resources, and more. There will also be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with USDA and DOI small business contracting specialists.
She also mentioned that USDA is continuing to conduct a series of small business conferences to facilitate rural economic growth and increase small business contracting participation by enhancing the competitive posture of small farmer-owned cooperatives and small rural businesses to compete successfully for government and commercial contracts, both prime and subcontracts.
Annually, USDA purchases more than $5 billion dollars in goods and services essential to meeting the needs of our customers and the various missions of the agency. Approximately 60 percent of these dollars are spent on food commodities.
There is no conference fee. Pre-registration is preferred with onsite registration available. Please register at www.doi.gov/osdbu by September 2, 2011. For further information please call toll free: 1-877-375-9927 or click here.