El Paso, Oct 18, 2011 - The El Paso Community College's Contract Opportunities Center and the El Paso Small Business Consortium will host the 6th Annual Veterans Business Conference in partnership with Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  The conference will be held on October 20, 2011 at the El Paso Community College Administrative Center, 9050 Viscount.

The El Paso Small Business Consortium is a coalition of nonprofit business advocating organizations that consolidate their resources to provide a venue at which Veteran Owned Businesses, government buyers of goods or services and their prime contractors may begin the development of business relationships.  The purpose of this conference is to provide a venue where federal, state, local governments and their prime contractors have an opportunity to initiate or extend their outreach into a region not generally targeted in seeking veteran owned firms to meet acquisition needs; to provide an opportunity for regional veteran owned firms to network; market their capabilities and begin the development of relationships; and to provide training opportunities for current and potential suppliers of goods or services.

“I strongly encourage all current and potential veteran entrepreneurs and business owners to attend this very important conference," said Congressman Reyes. "It will be a one stop shop for small business owners and future entrepreneurs to access the resources available that will help them start up and expand."

The conference is free and open to the public. Pre-registration to attend the conference is required. Registration forms may be requested by contacting Keith Gutierrez at 915-831-7749. An electronic registration form can also be accessed at www.elpasococ.org. For more information about the conference, contact Joe Conway from EPCC's Contract Opportunities Center at 915-831-7748. The conference is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am and will conclude at 3:00pm.

WHO:         Congressman Silvestre Reyes
              
                    Welcoming Remarks:
                    Mayor John Cook
                    Keynote Lunch Speaker:
                    Yolanda Garcia Olivarez, Regional Administrator Region VI-SBA

WHAT:        6th Annual Veterans Business Conference

WHERE:     El Paso Community College Administrative Center
                    9050 Viscount
                    El Paso, Texas

WHEN:       Thursday, October 20, 2010
                    8:00 a.m.