Lakewood Welcomes More Than 100 Attendees to Federal Government Workshop

Mayor Douglas Richardson welcomed more than 100 attendees to the Marketing to the Federal Government workshop on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

This free event, held at drew a variety of businesses from all over the Puget Sound region to hear “engaging and energetic” presentations geared towards teaching businesses how to find and secure part of an estimated $100 billion in federal contracting dollars awarded to small businesses each year.*

Workshop attendees learned that 23 percent of all prime federal contracts are designated for small businesses. They also learned how to research the competition and set themselves apart, find the right opportunities on the right websites, how to plan, follow through, and what it takes to be successful.

Attendee comments were positive and many remained for networking after the presentations. Twenty-five attendees requested additional free one-on-one procurement and technical assistance (PTAC) and information on future events, and the event received an overall rating of just above nine out of 10 by the 35 percent who turned in their workshop comment sheets. To view the presentations go to: http://www.cityoflakewood.us/government/departments/economic-development/training-and-opportunities.

“We’re pleased to be able to bring value-added support to businesses in the city and in the region,” commented Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz.

In response to the success of these workshops, the South Sound Military and Communities Partnership in collaboration with Washington State PTAC, the City of Lakewood, and Pierce County will be hosting a new event, “Doing Business with JBLM” on June 12^th at the McGavick Center located on the Clover Park Technical College campus.

*$97.95 billion in federal contracts FY 2010, or 22.7 percent of eligible contracting dollars as reported by the Small Business Administration, were awarded representing an increase in federal prime contract dollars to small businesses for the second straight year.