May 2, 2011

GOV. MALLOY: CONNECTICUT HOSTS BUSINESS MATCHMAKER EVENT

June 23 All-Day Event Offers Contracting Opportunities for Connecticut Small Businesses

(Hartford, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced a partnership between state and federal agencies designed to match qualified Connecticut small businesses with federal and state prime contractors to increase business opportunities. On June 23 at the University of Hartford, Connecticut small businesses will have an opportunity to meet with prime government contractors and federal and state contracting agencies.

"I'm committed to making sure businesses and contractors alike know that Connecticut is open for business," said Governor Malloy. "By hosting a forum where small businesses can meet and discuss business opportunities with federal contractors, we are helping to expand opportunities for Connecticut workers and grow the Connecticut economy."

This matchmaker event will provide the small business community the opportunity to meet with large prime contractors, so they can inform the contractor about the goods and services they provide in an effort to gain new business opportunities and partnerships. It also provides prime contractors an opportunity to meet small businesses - including small, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses - they might not have previously known about, helping to increase their subcontracting pool and product offerings.

"Our economy is going to recover and America is going to win the future through innovation in the private sector. President Obama and the federal government are committed to supporting innovation and expanding opportunities for small businesses through our contracting policies," said Bob Zarnetske, General Services Administration Regional Administrator for New England.

"Small businesses have long been the cornerstone of our economy and when they are succeeding so does the United States," said Congressman John Larson. "By connecting small businesses with their larger counterparts, this event will take a major step toward ensuring the health of the innovative, efficient small businesses that comprise the backbone of the state's manufacturing industry. As we've seen over the past years, small businesses are leading this nation in its economic recovery, and we must continue to help them grow."

"This is a fantastic program and a win-win for Connecticut businesses and the federal government," said Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Connecticut's chief business registrar. "There is so much talent and creativity among Connecticut's hard-working entrepreneurs that could be put to good use by the federal government as it seeks to have services performed effectively and efficiently."

In addition to the business meetings, representatives from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration and others will give short presentations on the state and federal small business set aside programs and how to become certified to bid on state and federal government contract work.

Event information as follows:

Who : - CT small businesses and federal and state prime contractors, federal and state agencies
What : - Matchmaking business opportunity event
When : - June 23 - 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Where : - University of Hartford Gengras Student Union - 200 Bloomfield Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117

Contact - Registration Information:
To register as a prime government vendor:
Lisa Powell, SBA
860-240-4892
lisa.powell@sba.gov

To register as a small business:
Online at www.ctptap.org

Questions and special requests can be referred to Joan Stanley at 888-673-2837 ext. 207 or jstanley@secter.org .

Presented by:
Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
Connecticut Secretary of the State (SOTS)
Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP)
University of Hartford - Center for Professional Development
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

In cooperation with:
Congressman John Larson
Congressman Joe Courtney
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Congressman Jim Himes
Congressman Chris Murphy
Senator Joseph Lieberman
Senator Richard Blumenthal
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Higher Education
Connecticut Department of Information Technology
Connecticut Department of Public Works
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

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For Immediate Release: May 2, 2011

Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy