Wyoming Business Tips for Feb. 10-16

A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Janean Forsyth Lefevre, procurement specialist, Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center

Federal, state and local governments spend millions of dollars every year to purchase products and services from small businesses in Wyoming. An upcoming event in Wyoming is the best chance of the year in our state to learn everything there is to know about government contracting.

This year’s annual GRO-Biz Conference takes place in Cheyenne March 25 and promises to deliver a robust offering of matchmaking, networking and learning opportunities for Wyoming’s small businesses. Whether you are new to the idea of selling your goods or services to the government or you have been working in contracting for years, here’s a quick look at why you should attend:

-- Meet your representatives. Federal, state and local procurement representatives from all over our region will be on hand to speak with you face-to-face about government contracting opportunities for your small business. This is your best chance this year to make these connections and get all of your questions answered.

-- Learning opportunities. There will be multiple sessions to choose from, with some topics focused on the basics of government contracting, while others will cover issues more relevant to those who have experience or want to dive deeper into specific topics.

-- Powerful networking. The GRO-Biz Conference prioritizes not only face-to-face meetings with procurement representatives, but also is an opportunity to meet with other small-business owners, experts from multiple business resource organizations and dignitaries from local, state and regional governments.

To make sure you’re ready to get the most out of the event, you can read the full version of this Biz Tip at www.wyomingsbdc.org/biz-tips. To learn more or to register for this year’s GRO-Biz Conference, visit www.wyomingsbdc.org/grobiz. Unlike in the past, this year’s event will focus solely on government contracting. We hope you’ll join us.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their businesses. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY 82071-3922.