FAIRBORN — The state’s largest small business-to-government contracting event has announced that register is now open for the 2017 Ohio Business Matchmaker
The event will be April 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Wright State University’s Ervin J. Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Fairborn.
“Government contracting is multi-billion-dollar industry in Ohio,” said David Goodman, director of Ohio Development Services Agency. “This opportunity allows small businesses to market and sell directly to the government.”
The Ohio Development Services Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) partner to present this event to help small businesses “match” their quality products and services with available government contracts. This also helps government buyers and large contractors connect to hundreds of MBE/EDGE-certified, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, 8(a) and HUBZone businesses.
“The U.S. government is the world’s single largest purchaser of goods and services and in FY16, it awarded more than 4,000 contracts worth nearly $2 billion to Ohio small businesses,” said Ricardo Garcia, district director of the SBA’s Columbus district office. “By connecting small businesses to government contracting opportunities, we strive to contribute to their growth, which in turn will contribute to healthy local communities and economies with job creation.”
Participating buyers represent city, county, state and federal agencies, as well as large contractors with combined purchasing budgets representing billions of dollars. Government agencies and prime contractors can register for free, while small businesses can register for a reduced rate of $85 per person through today, $125 per person beginning March 16.
Participating government agencies and private companies participating to date include the following: AMedEquip LLC, Battelle, Cardinal Health, Central Ohio Transit Authority, Cleveland Metroparks, Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Columbus State Community College, Elford Construction Inc., General Services Administration, Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, MacAulay-Brown Inc., Midmark, Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Ohio Minority Business Assistance Center, Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Ohio Small Business Development Center, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Sinclair Community College, the Ohio State University Office of Purchasing, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Veteran Business Outreach Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
In addition to one-on-one scheduled matchmaking, there are webinars small businesses can attend in advance to be prepared to do business with government agencies.
To register for the Ohio Business Matchmaker and webinars, visit www.ohiobusinessmatchmaking.org.
