HUBZone Conference

On August 28, 2001, The Federal
Technology Center (The FTC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in partnership with Congressman Doug Ose, sponsored The HUBZone Forum at the Heidrick Ag History Center in Woodland, California. This forum was an informative seminar to help small businesses learn more about the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Empowerment Contracting Program. The HUBZone Program is designed to bring job opportunities and capital investment to underutilized areas by providing federal contracting opportunities to small businesses located in eligible areas.

The forum came about at the request of Congressman Ose, who wanted to provide information to his constituents and others interested in learning more about this relatively new government contracting program. The Congressman and his staff diligently worked to make this event a success. In his welcome remarks, Congressman Ose noted that America moves forward on the back of small businesses, and he is intent on giving business owners the information they need to have the opportunity to succeed. More than 100 businesses registered to attend this event.
In addition to hearing briefings from the SBA, The FTC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the Yuba Sutter Small Business Development Center, and the U.S General Services Administration, the audience had the opportunity to hear directly from a successful HUBZone contractor, TNT Industrial Contractors, Inc. Mr. David Tate, Marketing Director for TNT advised that businesses could help further the Government’s use of HUBZone set-asides by championing their successes to Government contracting agencies.
Based on the outstanding response to this year’s forum, The FTC plans to host a follow-on event next year to keep the business community informed of programs and resources that have been made available through the efforts of Congressman Ose and representatives in the legislature.

The following individuals spoke at this envent:

Welcome
Congressman Doug Ose, 3rd District

Overview of HUBZone Program, Q&A
Jim O'Neal, Director, Small Business Administration (SBA) - Sacramento

HUBZone Contracting & How The FTC PTAC can help you, Q&A
Carol Bowyer, Business Outreach Specialist
The FTC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (The FTC PTAC)

SBDC Mission & Services
Yuba-Sutter SBDC Representative

View From A HUBZone Company
Randy Twist, President, TNT Industrial Contractors Inc.

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Essie Gilchrist, Economic Development Specialist
Panel Members:
Carol Bowyer, Business Outreach Specialist
The FTC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (The FTC PTAC)
Paul Chann, Procurement Center Representative
Office of Government Contracting - Area VI (San Francisco), U.S. SBA
Lori B. Falkenstrom, Business Specialist,
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Brenda J. Gambardella, Assistant District Director,
8(a) Business Program in the San Francisco
Dan Sharp, District Representative, Congressman Doug Ose