By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | SCORE is a nonprofit national organization which has the nation’s largest network of expert business mentors. SCORE is proud to be a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Gwinnett veterans wanting to do business with the government can find SCORE helpful.
Unpaid, volunteer Score mentors like Tim Richards (and this writer) work with business clients to give them a more accurate picture of the opportunities available to them. Mentors help clients solve problems, make businesses more efficient, and assist with developing short-term action plans as well as long-term, strategic business plans.
Websites promoting future expos/conferences will often post a “call for abstracts/papers” and/or “call for speakers” as they build their event agenda. These are opportunities for entrepreneurs to get exposure as well as instant credibility and influence.
There are multiple resources available to veterans who are entrepreneurs wanting to do business with the government. Here is a partial list.
- Systems for Awards Management is the federal government registration site for enterprises wanting to do business with the federal government, including contracting. Firms must register with this agency before it can be of assistance.
- The Small Business Administration has a set-aside program for veterans. This can give veteran contractors an advantage over other businesses, large and small, by restricting bidding and awards to companies that meet the set-aside criteria and have been certified as such by this agency.
- National Defense Industrial Association allows entrepreneurs to learn to network. With chapters across the globe, this association is inexpensive to join and a key resource for clients wanting to do business with the Department of Defense. There are monthly local chapter events, plus topic driven larger events.
- Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer provide links to government departments and agencies by funding topic, including application instructions.
- Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association has chapters across the globe, promoting small businesses to provide both larger government contractors (such as Lockheed Martin) and federal/state government (such as the Department of Defense), which has needs far beyond just communications and electronics). Their monthly chapter luncheons are great for networking. Plus, there are local and national expos and conferences covering an array of topics.
A final note to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. If you interested in learning how to start a small business or to grow your existing business, SCORE is the organization that can help you to succeed. Simply go to the www.score.org website and register for a seminar or ask for a free mentoring session on-line or via telephone. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
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