RT-Homeland Security & SBA matching grants-
SBA Participates in Conference Which Grants Small Businesses Access to Government Contracts
CHICAGO, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, April 1, 2005, the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) along with Congressman Ray LaHood, local
government agencies and over 200 business leaders will participate in a one-
day conference -- Central Illinois Homeland Security Symposium. The
conference -- which will take place at the Holiday Inn City Center in Peoria,
Illinois -- plans to match small businesses and local government to grant and
contracting opportunities with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The conference is sponsored by the Heartland Partnership, a consortium of
Central Illinois organizations involved in economic development.
During the past few years, DHS has actively sought the support of the
business community in providing new and innovative strategies and products for
national security purposes, which has led to the development and expansion of
partnerships among both small and large businesses and federal, state and
local governments. In 2003, DHS awarded over 40 percent of its prime
contracts to small business, far exceeding the standard 23 percent
requirement.
"The SBA is pleased to participate in this exciting symposium, where small
businesses from across Illinois will have an opportunity for matchmaking with
representatives of local, state and federal government -- including the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security -- and a number of large prime contractors
seeking potential subcontractors and suppliers," said Judith A. Roussel, SBA's
District Director for Illinois.
Michelle Chaudry, President & CEO of HTA Technology Security Consulting,
Inc. recently participated in SBA's 7(j) Executive Training Program and is
looking forward to the upcoming Homeland Security symposium. "I plan to attend
the Central Illinois Homeland Security Symposium and would recommend that any
small business serious about finding government procurement opportunities in
this field, do the same," says Chaudry. "Since March 2004, my company, HTA
Technology Security Consulting, Inc., has received multiple prime and
subcontract awards to support Department of Homeland Security national
security activities. HTA was recently awarded a 5-year, $1.8 million contract
in support of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection PAL Enrollment Center. I
found that throughout the process, working with them was very easy. DHS
program managers facilitated a seamless transition and were exceptionally open
to working with a small, woman-owned business."
Throughout the conference, nearly 20 exhibitor booths will be available in
the exhibit hall where entrepreneurs can explore existing small business
opportunities the entire day. The afternoon session will feature three
workshops focusing on government contract opportunities, subcontracting with
prime contractors, and accessing Homeland Security grants available for
research institutions and local governments.
For more information, contact 309-495-5972 or register at
icc.edu.
For more information about all of the SBA's programs for small businesses,
visit the SBA's extensive Web site at sba.gov.
SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration
Carol Wilkerson of the U.S. Small Business Administration, +1-312-353-7327
21Mar05 20:10 GMT |
