Helping Veterans Win on a New Front: The Marketplace

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7 -- The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), in conjunction with other public and private sector companies and government agencies will hold the 3rd Annual Veterans Small Business Training & Outreach Conference. At this one-day event, entrepreneurs will learn how to sell their products and services to the government by discovering lessons and trends from large businesses, successful veteran entrepreneurs, and Government procurement specialists.

     The conference will be held on Monday, October 25, 2004 at the Conference Center at Penn State Great Valley in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It is open to both veterans and all types of small business owners who may benefit from obtaining government contracts.

     Pennsylvania SBDC specialists in government procurement and marketing helped developed the event, which will feature two renowned speakers. In the morning, former Governor of Pennsylvania and current President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Mark Schweiker will kick off the conference. During the luncheon, Garry Maddox, a Philadelphia-area businessman and centerfielder for the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, will address conference attendees on how to build successful ventures.

     Key government buyers, prime contractors, along with fellow veteran businesses will also be on-hand during the day to meet entrepreneurs and discuss information regarding government contracts.

     Major sponsors include: AstraZeneca; Aventis Pasteur; Boeing Company; Center for Veterans Enterprise; Comcast Corporation; GE Structured Service; Lockheed Martin; Pepco Holdings, Inc.; Richardson & Capelli; Veterans Business Journal; ISM Supplier Diversity Pharmaceutical Forum; the Southeast PA Procurement Technical Assistance Program; and the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers.

     Government Agencies participating in the event will be the Defense Contract Management Agency, Philadelphia; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the U.S. Small Business Administration; and the U.S. General Services Administration.

     As the largest statewide provider of entrepreneurial services, the SBDCs play a unique and vital role in the Commonwealth's economic development initiatives as the only organization that: 
      

• utilizes the expertise and resources of 16 of the best colleges and universities in the    Commonwealth;
  
• assists entrepreneurs in all stages of business, from prospective entrepreneurs to mature small businesses looking for growth opportunities;
  
• works with firms in all industry sectors, including the fast growing service and retail sectors that comprise the bulk of the state's firms, as well as manufacturing, construction and wholesale;
  
• is nationally accredited as mandated by Congress; and
  
• can draw upon the resources of a national network of more than 950 Centers.
  

Since 1990, the SBDCs have helped Pennsylvania entrepreneurs:

• start more than 13,000 new businesses;
  
• obtain $1.3 billion in start-up and expansion funding;
  
• expand sales by $5.1 billion, including $1.4 billion in government contracts and $1 billion in export sales;
  
• create over 70,000 new jobs at an average cost of $926 per job; and
  
• generate nearly $500 million in new tax revenues.

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers are funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the private sector and the host colleges and universities. This support enables consulting services to be provided at no charge. SBDCs are located at Bucknell University, Clarion University, Duquesne University, Gannon University, Indiana University, Kutztown University, Lehigh University, Lock Haven University, Penn State University, Saint Francis University, Saint Vincent College, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, University of Pittsburgh, University of Scranton, and Wilkes University.

Source: PRNewswire