Charleston County to Host "Contacts to Contracts" Workshop Friday

Charleston County Government’s Small Business Enterprise Program will hold a free workshop to introduce owners of small businesses to department heads and procurement officials from Charleston County Government and the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission. The workshop will be held on Friday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at James Island County Park’s Edisto Center. Entrance to the park is also free for attendees.

The departments and functions that will be represented at the workshop are:

• Procurement
• Capital Projects
• Public Works
• Information Technology
• Sheriff’s Office
• Facilities Management
• Transportation Sales Tax program
• Community Services
• Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (Charleston Center)
• Internal Services
• Fleet Operations
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Each department will have a table set up with information on upcoming projects, current bids and how to do business with the two agencies. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the Charleston Area USC Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which will conduct a segment on all of the services that are available to small businesses through the SBDC.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how Charleston County can help grow your business no matter how small,” said Charleston County Councilmember Anna B. Johnson, who will welcome participants to the workshop.

The workshop is formatted so business owners can have a short, one-on-one session with the upper-level officials who make the decisions on goods and services.

“This is a once-a-year opportunity that I would heartily encourage owners of small businesses to fit into their schedules,” said Susan Hogan, Charleston County’s Small Business Enterprise Program Manager. “The networking concept allows for two interested and motivated entities to come together for the benefit of both.”

For more information on Charleston County’s Small Business Enterprise Program, contact Susan Hogan, Program Manager, at (843) 958-4765 or shogan@charlestoncounty.org.

Visit the county’s website at www.charlestoncounty.org for news and information relating to Charleston County Government.