News>VA opens small business conference in New Orleans
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Veterans owning small businesses have the opportunity to learn more about winning federal contracts and expanding their businesses during the National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo in New Orleans Aug. 15-18, 2011, hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Department of Veterans Affairs photo/Robert Turtil)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki visits with attendees of the National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo Aug. 15, 2011. The conference is taking place in New Orleans and is focusing on helping veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses succeed in winning federal contracts and expanding their businesses. (Department of Veterans Affairs photo/Robert Turtil)
8/17/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo in New Orleans is underway. Hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time, it is the largest nationwide conference of its kind focused on helping veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses succeed in winning federal contracts and expanding their businesses. The conference runs through Aug. 18.
"This conference offers a new approach to providing veteran-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses the access and tools they need to thrive in the federal marketplace," said Eric K. Shinseki, the secretary of veterans affairs. "Our primary goal is to help more veterans start and grow their own businesses."
In addition to Shinseki and other senior VA leaders, conference speakers include Jane Lute, deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, and Frank Kendall, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, logistics and technology.
The conference offers valuable insight to assist both new and seasoned veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to succeed, Shinseki said. More than 100 sessions will address a range of topics, including branding, marketing, management, financing and business opportunities within the federal government as well as how to secure loans through the Small Business Administration and its new express and pilot programs, which offer streamlined and expedited loan procedures for certain borrowers such as veterans.
Participants also have an opportunity to network via the VetGovPartner platform that enables them to view business profiles of all participants at the conference as well as to identify business opportunities associated with the more than 200 government procurement decision makers in attendance.
The conference also offers on-site assistance to veterans and veteran business owners on how to become eligible for VA's Vets First Contracting Program.
For those veterans or veterans-owned businesses new to the process, the conference provides a learning session that explains current requirements to become verified accompanied by lessons learned and tips to help applicants navigate the process. In addition, VA staff membersare on-site to assist firms to initiate verification applications, and to provide updates on status of applications in process.
The conference learning sessions are targeted at a variety of businesses, from new business owners to well-established veteran-owned businesses looking to expand opportunities or increase market share.
Additionally, the state directors of VA from 10 states are attending to share their 'best practices' on veterans-owned business development with conference attendees.
The National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo is open to both government and non-government personnel. A video news release about the conference can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ-S8ZEk50o.
