BONITA–Small business owners who want to do business with local government agencies will get a chance to meet key purchasing buyers and learn the truth about government contracting at a free seminar on April 18 at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library. Government agencies want to work with small businesses and have goals that need to be met.
The “Meet the Buyers” seminar will feature experts and buyers from the County of San Diego, Caltrans, the Port of San Diego, the San Diego County Water Authority, SANDAG, the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, and San Diego Community Colleges.
The government is the largest consumer in the world. They purchase everything from lipstick to airplanes, including: construction and consulting services, office supplies, moving services, food, temporary employees, promotional items, real estate, insurance, architecture services and more. Recently, there were contracts for fish food and goat herders.
“Small businesses are the key to creating jobs and leading us out of this recession and this event will greatly help small business owners,” said County Supervisor Greg Cox, who will greet seminar participants.
The “Meet the Buyers” event will feature a panel of experts to help businesses increase sales and create jobs with government contracting. Attendees will also learn the rules and regulations on searching for and getting contracts with local agencies. They will learn how to work with agencies and register products or services, what buyers need to be competitive, how to find the jobs, current opportunities and purchasing contacts.
“We want to help small businesses learn how to navigate through the process of working with agencies successfully to obtain contracts,” said Joseph Molina, Director of the MiraCosta College Business and Entrepreneurship Center (BEC). “Government contracting provides great opportunities for small businesses to increase revenues and create jobs.”
The event is being organized by the MiraCosta College Business and Entrepreneurship Center in partnership with the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, National City Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Small Business Development Centers and South County Business Services.
Meet The Buyers” is free but space is limited and businesses owners are urged to register online at www.becsandiego.com. The event will be held April 18 at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library, 4375 Bonita Road, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The BEC is supported by the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWD) and provides training programs.
