U.S. Chamber, SBA Announce Matchmaking Effort

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced a joint program to sponsor 15 nationwide, small business procurement conferences over the coming year to help small business owners obtain new contracts. U.S. Chamber members will have a unique potential to bid for billions of dollars in corporate and government contracts as part of the conferences, the first of which is being held October 9 – 10 in Cleveland, Ohio.

"This is an exciting opportunity for small business members of the Chamber to boost their revenues," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "Small businesses will be the 'little engine that could' in the nation's economic recovery and future growth."

Thousands of small business owners will be offered matchmaking slots for the potential to bid for contracts from companies such as Goodyear, First Energy and Raytheon, and federal government agencies such as the Defense Logistics Agency and Dept. of Veteran Affairs, as well as local government agencies. The two-day conferences will include networking, training and procurement opportunities, and feature a matchmaking event – pairing small business owners with prime contractors and federal, state and local agencies.

"Entrepreneurs will receive a wealth of information on the most recent developments in federal procurement and unprecedented access to new opportunities," said Hector V. Barreto, SBA Administrator. "The SBA is actively supporting the President's Small Business Agenda to improve access to government contracts for small businesses, by taking these events to hometown America."

The regional procurement conferences will educate small business owners on how to participate in the $200 billion federal marketplace. The conference provides the perfect venue for all small businesses to share their contracting experiences and challenges with each other and to learn about new business opportunities and resources available in the marketplace today.

Information on future regional procurement conferences, participating contractors, and registration is available at www.uschamber.com/events/matchmaking. The slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, call 888-387-2287.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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