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EPA'S upcoming Small Business and jobs conference aimed at helping veterans

Release Date: 11/05/2007
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA206

(Chicago - Nov. 5, 2007) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and Young Entrepreneurs of the Universe will co-sponsor the fourth annual Veterans' Small Business and Grants Opportunity Conference next week at EPA offices in downtown Chicago. The conference is free but participants must register in advance online or by e-mail.

TIME: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

DATE: Nov. 13 and 14

PLACE: 12th Floor Conference Center
Ralph Metcalfe Federal Building
77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago

REGISTRATION: Contact Adrianne Callahan, EPA Region 5's coordinator at 312- 353-5556 or www.epa.gov/region5/business/sbconf/index.htm

"I am convinced that this conference gives veterans essential tools to market the strong technical capabilities that small businesses have to offer," said Assistant Regional Administrator Walter W. Kovalick Jr.

Last year's conference attracted more than 75 small businesses, mostly owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans. EPA Region 5 was recently awarded the Administrator's Award for Outstanding Direct Procurement Program Achievement for Fiscal Year 2006. This award was in recognition of the largest EPA Superfund contract awarded to a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

The first day of the conference will focus on equipping interested non-profits, tribal organizations and veterans with valuable user-friendly information about government grant programs. EPA will also provide an overview of specific grant opportunities and conduct practical exercises on preparing successful grant proposals.

The second day emphasizes government contracts. Denise Benjamin-Sirmons, the new director of the office of acquisition management at EPA headquarters, will deliver the keynote address. Other participating federal agencies and large businesses will provide information on how to win contracts and find subcontracting opportunities. Department of Veterans Affairs National Acquisition Center, U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest, Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority and other agencies will present advice and exhibits.