SCOTTSBLUFF—The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) APEX Accelerator program hosted its biannual Meet the Buyers government contracting conference in Scottsbluff from October 17-19, bringing together more than ninety attendees from fifty different companies and ten different states including Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, California, New Jersey, North Carolina. The free conference was an opportunity for Nebraska business owners to learn more about growing their operations through government contracting opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels.
“We love hosting this event in western Nebraska each year,” said Veronica Doga, director of NBDC’s APEX Accelerator program. “There are unprecedented opportunities right now for Nebraska businesses to grow their revenues through government contracts. Meet the Buyers is the best place possible for business owners to meet directly with those in government agencies selecting who will receive contracts, ask questions, and receive a competitive edge when submitting bids.”
Thirteen federal, state, and local agencies, prime contracting companies, and resource partners spoke directly to attendees about bid opportunities and resources within their organizations. Participating agencies included Ellsworth Air Force Base, Northrop Grumman, National Park Service, Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, among others.
The conference featured a video address from U.S. Senator Deb Fischer speaking about the Sentinel program and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Colonel Elizabeth M. Harwood, Chief of Nuclear Enterprise Division at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, spoke on updates to the Sentinel program from the U.S. Air Force. Subsequent presentations from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel included updates on programs like Sentinel at FE Warren Air Force Base, the B-21 Beddown at Ellsworth Air Force Base and the Offutt Air Force Base reconstruction project.
Attendees received training on topics including cybersecurity, mentor-protégé programs, subcontracting, and marketing to federal agencies. Some attendees participated in a full-day Construction Quality Management (CQM) training course presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which resulted in a certificate upon completion.
Interested individuals can save the date for the 2024 Meet the Buyers conferences, which will take place April 24 in Lincoln, Neb., and on September 5 in Omaha, Neb.
“Whether you come to this event once or every time we hold it, there are new opportunities to grow your skillset or network directly with decision makers,” said Doga. “It’s a great resource for any business owner who is looking for an additional market for their business. The government needs all kinds of goods and services, and we want Nebraska businesses to be in the position to earn as many of those dollars as possible.”