Chamber, SBA, HP Announce Orlando Matchmaking Event

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration, in partnership with HP, will launch its matchmaking conference in Orlando, Florida, on March 4-5, as part of a nationwide outreach to small businesses to help spur local economic growth. The conference — the first of 15 planned regional events — will provide Orlando's small business owners with a unique opportunity to bid for billions of dollars in corporate and government contracts.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the nation's economy and the hope for its future recovery and growth," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "This is a huge opportunity for small business members of the Chamber to boost their revenues."

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 conference includes networking, training and procurement opportunities, and features a matchmaking event — pairing small business owners with prime contractors and federal, state and local agencies.

"Orlando entrepreneurs will receive a wealth of information on the most recent developments in federal procurement and unprecedented access to new opportunities," said Donohue. "This program supports the President's small business agenda to help drive local economies around the country."

The regional matchmaking conferences will educate small business owners on how to participate in the $200 billion federal marketplace. The conferences provide 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 for them to improve their bottom line today.

Information on the Orlando matchmaking conference, participating contractors, and registration is available at http://www.uschamber.com/resources/small/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.

# # #

03-38