BATON ROUGE-Small business owners and contractors are invited to participate in the Fifth Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference, March 24, 2009, at the Southern University Smith Brown Memorial Student Union.

The conference continues to bring together potential and existing contractors, entrepreneurs and government agencies in position for business match making. Small enterprises are providing an opportunity to meet contracting officers and purchasing agents.

Attendees will receive information on sources of assistance, the process of registration and obtaining licensing, methods of financing, and securing contracts. They will learn to sell products and services to private industry and federal, state, and local government.

Representatives from the United States Small Business Administration will be available to discuss SBA programs, guarantees, certification process, bonds and surety, GO Loans, and disaster loans. Likewise, the Louisiana State Contractor Licensing Department will answer questions from individuals who want to become licensed or from existing contractors.

The conference is hosted by the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Center for Rural and Small Business Development, Louisiana Small Business Development Centers in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the U. S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the Southern University College of Business.

The event is free, but registration ends Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Register online at http://www.crsbd.com/events/registration/

For more information, contact Gloria London, director, Center for Small and Rural Business Development, or Eual Hall, business development specialist, at (225) 771-2242.