On Thursday, November 9, from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (GOAS) – in partnership with Macon-Bibb’s Office of Small Business Affairs (OSBA) – will host “A Business State of Mind.”
This will be chance for small business owners to learn how they can better do business with the State of Georgia. This forum is the first a series of events being held around the state by the GOAS to increase participation by small and minority businesses. Participants will learn about:
- Registering for Georgia’s eProcurement System;
- Searching for state bids and contracts;
- Georgia’s small business and supplier diversity initiative; and
- Georgia’s new business certification program.
Additionally, Macon-Bibb’s Procurement Department will be on hand with vendor applications to help the businesses bid on work with the consolidated government.
“We want to help our minority, small, and local businesses better understand how to bid on projects with Macon-Bibb and Georgia, from where to look, what bidding requirements mean, and what’s required of them,” says OSBA Director Charise Stephens. “We’re honored Georgia chose Macon-Bibb County to be the first location for their statewide outreach and are looking forward to working closely with them in the future.”
“We are thrilled about the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Initiative put in place last year by an Executive Order issued by Governor P. Kemp. The focus is to make the procurement process easier to access for small businesses with a focus on women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses,” says Julian Bailey, Georgia’s Small Business and Supplier Diversity Manager. “Collaborating with Macon-Bibb County allows us to reach small businesses in their local community so that they can receive the information they need to do business with the State.”
Speaking at the event will be Georgia’s Small Business and Supplier Diversity Manager Julian Bailey and Small Business and Diversity Specialist Crystal Brown, as well as Macon-Bibb County Procurement Department Director Laura Hardwick and Office of Small Business Affairs Director Charise Stephens.