Matchmaker Event Spurs Success Story
August 6, 2007 | Print this page | Share This | Email this page
In June, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and the Rhode Island Procurement Technical Assistance Center, as members of the Department of Defense Northeast Regional Small Business Council, hosted a three-day spring matchmaker event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, where 577 small businesses and 63 prime contractors and federal agencies attended.
The matchmaker event placed small businesses before large prime contractors and federal agency buyers to market their wares in the hope of creating increased small business opportunity.
Washington-based Lockheed had never considered Rhode Island's small business for contracts until they attended the spring matchmaker. Lockheed was impressed with the quality and work ethic of Rhode Island's small businesses at the matchmaker, where every ten minutes a local small business presented their capabilities to Lockheed.
Lockheed's positive experience at the event prompted the company to reach out to PTAC and Rhode Island small businesses.
Lockheed Supplier Diversity Program contacted PTAC to request that we inform our clients that they are looking for suppliers that are in these specific SDVOSB and HUB zone categories.
After being awarded a $43 billion Boeing 787 air transport contract, Lockheed decided to add Rhode Island's small businesses to its potential vendor list. The Boeing contract carries with it the requirement of the submission of a formal small business subcontracting plan and the need for increased supplier diversity and small business utilization.
Matchmaker events, held every six months across New England, are responsible for thousands of opportunities for small businesses to make connections with federal agencies and contractors, often securing viable contracts and subcontracts.
PTAC encourages Rhode Island small business owners to consider becoming more involved in the local and federal government contracts markets. PTAC programs and training workshops helps businesses seek out and take advantage of this exciting opportunity for growth.
