Government + Small Businesses Matchmaker, May 5

The 2011 Government Small Businesses Matchmaker event will take place on May 5th in Tampa. The annual event is hosted by the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at USF. The event allows businesses the opportunity to network with government agencies.

"The purpose of the event is to match companies that can fill government needs, such as security, IT, janitorial services, civil engineering and construction with government entities," says Charlene Bostic, SBDC's PTAC procurement specialist. "I call it business speed dating."
 
Bostic says that the event is for businesses of all sizes, but she recommends the event for small businesses specifically.

"My recommendation for small businesses is to meet with these government agencies one on one, which normally requires an appointment,'' Bostic says. "With this event, we alleviate the frustrations for small businesses to get in front of these government agencies. Otherwise, the small businesses are spinning their wheels trying to get an appointment at a government office."

Just like other matchmaking services, Bostic says her office does its best to screen both the government agency and business to ensure a good fit.

"We carefully screen businesses beforehand so they are prepared to meet with the appropriate government agencies," she says. "At the event, the businesses will have an allotted amount of time with those government agencies that are a good fit."

Government entities that have already registered for the event  include MacDill Air force Base, the City of Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center and Tampa International Airport, among others.

The 2011 Government Small Businesses Matchmaker event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 5th at the Dr. Blaise Alfano Conference and Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Charlene Bostic, Procurement Technical Assistance Center at USF