Southern Ag Center

Small business owners and contractors are invited to participate in the Fourth Annual Connecting Businesses with Contracts Procurement Conference, March 18, 2008, 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.

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, U. S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and the Southern University College of Business.

Exhibitors include representatives from:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Barksdale Air Force Base
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
United States Department of Agriculture
Department of Energy
Bureau of Prisons
GSA
Minerals Management Service
U.S. Coast Guard
Louisiana National Guard
Department of the Navy
CH2MHill
Shaw
Louisiana State Office of Purchasing
James Construction
Tulane University
Gulf Engineers
John E. Chance & Associates
Brown Cunningham & Gannuch, Inc.
South East Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Baton Rouge City Purchasing
Louisiana State Contractor Licensing Board
Liberty Bank
Capital One Bank
Louisiana Housing Finance Agency
Louisiana State University Purchasing
Louisiana Department of Economic Development
Louisiana Secretary of State Office
Louisiana Department of Workers Compensation
Entergy Inc., and others.

The event is free, but registration ends March 14.

Download your participant registration form or exhibitor registration form.

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

# # #