JEFFERSON CITY – To support the continued growth of Missouri businesses, both large and small, the Office of Administration today announced a way to help businesses navigate the complexities of starting and successfully growing a business in Missouri. The Small Business Symposium & Reverse Vendor Fair will provide a unique opportunity for small business owners, subcontractors and prime contractors to network with state agencies and learn how to competitively bid on state procurement contracts.
“Inclusion and equal opportunity are vital instruments in creating and building Missouri’s small business base,” said Office of Administration Commissioner Doug Nelson. “The Small Business Symposium & Reverse Vendor Fair will allow individuals with a vested interest in the Missouri small business climate to network with representatives from various state agencies and gain a better grasp on how to participate in state contracts.”
In addition to networking opportunities with state agency representatives, symposium attendees will have access to three presentations: the “Vendor Boot Camp,” hosted by the Office of Administration Division of Purchasing and Materials Management, will provide a roadmap through the State of Missouri’s Competitive Bidding Process; the “Let’s Talk Money” segment, hosted by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, will focus on sources of funding capital for today’s small business owner; and “The Human Element in Your Success,” hosted by the State of Missouri Center for Management and Professional Development, will discuss the importance of building and maintaining a high-performing work team.
The Small Business Symposium & Reverse Vendor Fair will be held on Wednesday, May 27 in St. Louis at the Airport Renaissance Hotel and again on Wednesday, June 3 in Kansas City at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Registration is free online at oa.mo.gov/SBS.