Small and veteran-owned businesses looking to find their way into the sometimes complex world of government procurement could get a hand up this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The city of Fort Worth is hosting the Mission-Ready Small Business Contracting Summit,<\/a> in partnership with Shoppa\u2019s Material Handling<\/a> and the Lone Star Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n The free event will provide practical information on navigating government contracting, including how to find opportunities, obtain certifications and submit competitive bids, according to the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n It will be held in the Council Chambers at Fort Worth City Hall, 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 9, and is open to small-business owners and veteran-owned businesses. Register here to attend.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur team continues to champion Fort Worth\u2019s small and veteran\u2011owned businesses, helping them connect with opportunities to grow,\u201d said Ori Fernandez, assistant director of the city\u2019s economic development department.<\/p>\n This year, the department has made small\u2011business contracting opportunities a major priority, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGovernments are always looking to purchase a wide range of products and services, and their contracts are often long term, which is great for small businesses looking to expand \u2014 and they can also open doors to other partnerships down the road,\u201d said Fernandez.\u00a0<\/p>\n A panel of industry experts will offer guidance on how government procurement systems work, how businesses can pursue contracting opportunities, what certifications may be required and how to submit competitive bids.\u00a0<\/p>\n The event will also include a presentation from Ashley Farrier, director of the Office of Small Business Programs at U.S. Special Operations Command.<\/p>\n The city of Fort Worth has been working to engage more small and veteran-owned businesses in its own procurement efforts<\/a>, including by working alongside local agencies to encourage small businesses to obtain a Small Business Enterprise certification<\/a> as the first step in the process.<\/p>\n Quarterly SBE certification workshops are available, with classes coming up on Nov. 18 that will be presented in both English<\/a> and in Spanish<\/a>.<\/p>\n Robert Francis is business editor of the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at robert.francis@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n