Leaders in the region are reaching out to small- and minority-business owners, helping them tap into lucrative government projects during events today in Maryland and Virginia.
Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson will open the Small and Minority Business Expo in College Park. The expo expects to have more than 300 businesses and more than 400 registered guests.
A central theme of the event will be showing small and minority businesses how they can take on bigger contracts, said Denise Roberts, spokeswoman for Johnson.
In Virginia, a conference hosted by Women Impacting Public Policy and the Native American Contractors Association will try to show those same businesses how to go after some of the region’s most sought-after government contracts. The four-hour conference, starting at 8 a.m. at the Center for Innovative Technology Complex in Herndon, will bring women business owners and Native American companies together with leaders in the federal government, such as Jovita Carranza, deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Courting minority- and women-owned businesses needs to be a priority of local, state and the federal government, said Jennifer Dennis-Smith, a spokeswoman for the conference in Herndon. The state and federal governments’ relationship with these businesses is important to the regional and national economy.
“There are 15.6 million women-owned businesses and growing, but they are not receiving as many contracts as they should,” said Dennis-Smith.
Local governments are recognizing the importance of small business, said Roberts, which is why Prince George’s County is hosting a conference.
“[Small businesses] are what makes the growth behind the county, and we want to make sure they have the opportunity to find the tools they need to succeed,” Roberts said.
