Annual Governor’s Marketplace to be Held April 18th
Governor Kitzhaber’s Economic & Business Equity Office released its annual report on state contracts with emerging small businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women. The report comes out in advance of the upcoming Governor’s Marketplace, scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, 2012.
“Our strong and innovative small businesses are helping to drive Oregon’s economic recovery,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “And our enduring, statewide prosperity is dependent on equitable opportunities for all of Oregon’s workforce.”
The annual report from the Governor’s Economic & Business Equity Office summarizes state agency contracting with certified minority-owned and women-owned firms. In 2011, the State of Oregon’s 12 largest agencies contracted nearly $3.5 billion total, with 12 of 12 reporting agencies awarding contracts valued at $33 million to minority-owned or women-owned certified firms. In January 2012, Governor Kitzhaber signed Executive Order 12-03, which set forth guidelines for 21 state agencies to set aspirational contracting targets for next year. The Economic & Business Equity report also summarizes outreach to public and private business groups on contracting opportunities and to state agencies looking to increase utilization of Oregon’s 3,200 certified small businesses.
Limited copies of the report will be available at the tenth annual Governor’s Marketplace, which will be held April 18th at the Salem Conference Center, 200 Commercial St. SE. This large networking event typically draws upwards of 300 attendees interested in learning about business certification, working with government procurement offices, legal issues, labor laws, health insurance, and small business financing. This year’s event will also feature a new initiative from Google that helps small businesses build and maintain their own websites. A $10 early bird fee includes continental breakfast and lunch along with workshops and trainings.
