CARIBOU, Maine — Northern Maine Development Commission and Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center will partner to offer an online virtual workshop shop from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, for all small businesses interested in expanding their business through government contracts.
The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program now covers the entire Aroostook County and offers local businesses a competitive edge for federal awards.
Dana Delano, procurement counselor for Maine PTAC, will hold the online webinar via Zoom to offer details on the HubZone program and how to become certified.
“Aroostook County in a qualified HUBZone,” said Bob Clark, executive director at NMDC.
“We understand the challenges Aroostook County small businesses are facing and we want area businesses to understand the opportunity and benefits that the HUBZone program presents. This program can help stimulate the region’s economy by getting federal contracts flowing to eligible small businesses,” Clark said.
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones through the establishment of preferences. Those preferences to HUBZone-qualified companies include competitive and sole-source contracting, 10 percent price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities.
The federal government has a goal of awarding 3 percent of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZone-certified small businesses.
The workshop is free and open to any business interested in learning more about this program.
To attend, RSVP to Delano by emailing ddelano@nmdc.org. He will send you a link to the free Zoom meeting.
Zoom meetings can be attended by computer or phone, and participants do not have to have a Zoom account to attend.
