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Institutional Communications

Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137

Laramie

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-2929

Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu

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Wyoming Business Tips for Feb. 12

February 3, 2017

A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Brett Housholder, Wyoming Entrepreneur Procurement Technical Assistance Center program manager

“I’m interested in learning about government contracting and meeting government agencies to tell them about my business, but I can’t always attend all the workshops and networking events you host throughout the year. How can I prioritize what to attend?” Steve, Buffalo

We always encourage people to attend as many of our workshops and events as they can but understand that it’s not always possible to make it to each of them. However, once a year, we host our largest event, the GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo, which features all the best parts of the various events we host throughout the year. This year’s event will be held in Casper Feb. 22-23.

Here’s why you should attend:

-- The event features three components: networking with government agencies to learn about opportunities to sell to them; attending workshops (11 separate topics throughout the event) to learn about specific business growth strategies or government contracting topics; and learning about other low- or no-cost business resources throughout Wyoming to help your business grow.

-- A vital part of selling to the government is getting to know the agencies in your area and the contracting staff who work for them. This conference provides you an opportunity to sit down and visit one on one with over two dozen contracting staff members from agencies such as F.E. Warren Air Force Base, the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the General Services Administration and others. Having all of these agencies represented in the same place is rare and a great opportunity to introduce your business.

-- Also, there are five breakout sessions focused on specific government contracting topics throughout the event. This year, we’ll look at marketing to government agencies; preparing and submitting invoices; reviewing and preparing proposals for government jobs; finding opportunities with the state of Wyoming; and learning about recent updates to federal programs like the Woman-Owned Small Business Program through the Small Business Administration. The event also features six other breakout sessions, if selling to the government isn’t your priority.

-- Finally, this is a chance to learn about all of the incredible resources available to Wyoming business owners. The WSBDC Network is one of several agencies throughout the state that offers specialized business assistance, usually at low or no cost to you. Again, this is a rare opportunity to learn about all of the specialized services available to help your business grow.

For details, visit www.wyomingsbdc.org and look under the scrolling “Events and Classes” section for a link to register. Plus, the registration website has a “Conference Tips” tab with ideas on how to prepare. We hope you’ll join us!

A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments are available at www.wyomingsbdc.org/blog1/.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. 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.

Contact Us

Institutional Communications

Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137

Laramie

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-2929

Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)