Government Contracting Officers Will Journey to Cheyenne for GRO-Biz Conference

Contracting officers from various government agencies across the region will be coming to Wyoming, looking to buy products and services from small-business owners.

The GRO-Biz Conference, scheduled Wednesday, March 25, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center in Cheyenne, is Wyoming’s premier government contracting event. Attendees will have the chance to meet one-on-one with representatives from several government agencies and learn how to expand their market with government contracting. Registrants also will gain access to two preconference workshops and a networking reception March 24.

This event is organized for Wyoming entrepreneurs by the Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center, U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network.

Rob Watson, from Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., will offer a keynote address and meet with entrepreneurs throughout the event. Other agencies that will be in attendance include the U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Air National Guard, the Bureau of Land Management, F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the National Park Service.

Several big-name speakers also will be on hand to present educational sessions, with two separate tracks for beginners and current government contractors. There will be several networking opportunities to speak with procurement representatives; other small-business owners; experts with Wyoming’s various entrepreneurial support organizations; and sponsors such as the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Triple A Building Services Inc., Visit Cheyenne, Trihydro Corp., Bairco Construction Inc., Manufacturing Works and the Better Business Bureau.

Last year, the federal government spent more than $330 million in Wyoming. Many of those contracting opportunities are set aside for small businesses.

To learn more or to register, visit www.wyomingsbdc.org/grobiz. Cost for the event is $65 if you register by March 13. Breakfast and lunch will be served.