UVa-Wise to host supplier procurement workshop July 10

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA) and the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (DMBE), will host “Selling to the State and Local Government – Strategies for Success,” a workshop designed to educate Virginia’s businesses about opportunities to sell goods and services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The workshop will include information about eVA (the state’s electronic procurement system), SWAM (small, women, and minority) certification, and mandatory state spending with certified small businesses. Methods for contacting state government buyers and business assistance services will also be presented. Businesses will have the opportunity to network with buyers from several state and local agencies.

The workshop will be held Tuesday, July 10, at the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center at UVa-Wise. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the program is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m, with an optional computer lab from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. A free networking lunch will be provided.

The event is sponsored by UVa-Wise, the Wise County Chamber of Commerce, the Pioneer Center for Business Opportunity and the Small Business Development Center.

For more event information, contact Tammy Farmer at tammy.farmer@vdba.virginia.gov. To register, visit http://www.vipnet.org/conference/cgi-bin/conference.cgi?confer_id=150.

VDBA partners with organizations throughout the state in an effort to help businesses understand the state government purchasing process and access contracting opportunities in their market. VDBA also supports economic development in the Commonwealth by working with new and existing businesses to provide workforce incentives, loans, business information, incubator counseling and educational opportunities for businesses and economic development communities. VDBA administers the Virginia Business Information Center (VBIC), which provides answers and solutions to business-related inquiries. VBIC can be contacted by calling their toll-free number at (866) 248-8814 or by e-mailing vbic@vdba.virginia.gov.

Posted July 10, 2007