Small companies can access stimulus, other funds
Small businesses, which create roughly 70 percent of the new jobs in this country, are the heart of the American economy and drive the nation’s ability to innovate and remain competitive on the global stage. Through the U.S. General Services Administration, the government’s major purchasing agency, small businesses can access a number of programs meant to give them the resources to build and grow.
In this spirit, GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization has launched a mentor protégé program specifically designed to help smaller companies secure GSA contracts and subcontracts. This program pairs small businesses with large or small contractors who can mentor and assist them as they do business with GSA.
Those business owners need opportunities to succeed, and that’s what this new mentor protégé program offers. With 21 active agreements already in place, GSA is playing a key role in the administration’s commitment to putting small businesses at the forefront of the nation’s recovery. Our mentor-protégé program is one way GSA advocates for small, disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone, veteran and service-disabled small businesses as they do business with the government.
The mentor-protégé program can shorten the learning curve for small businesses and help them gain access to opportunities. Navigating and negotiating the business arena can be difficult, and federal contracts can be complex. Mentors that have experience winning contracts through GSA can help small businesses understand the government rules, enter new markets, manage growth, and develop client relationships.
In addition, the mentoring process fosters long-term relationships among small businesses and GSA prime contractors that can, in turn, increase the success of small businesses in winning GSA prime contract and subcontract awards. Learn how to participate at http://www.gsa.gov/mentor-protege.
Besides the mentoring program, GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization provides numerous training events, which can be found at www.gsa.gov/events. The monthly Kansas City Small Business Networking Breakfast, for example, offers small businesses the opportunity to introduce themselves to other small businesses, large businesses, school districts and universities, and local, state, and federal agencies.
GSA has local small business advocates in 11 regions across the country who serve as a resource and host events, including networking and matchmaking opportunities for government buyers and businesses, and potential subcontractors, as well. Webinars are also offered biweekly on topics such as how to get on GSA schedules and how to market to the federal government.
Now, and moving forward, GSA is a key player in the nation’s steps toward recovery, providing significant opportunities for small businesses. As of April 1, 2010, more than $500 million was awarded directly to small businesses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and many more millions have been awarded to small business subcontractors. Here in the Heartland Region, approximately 50 percent of the $240 million in Recovery Act investments has been awarded to small businesses.
While the majority of Recovery dollars have already been awarded, Recovery and other contracting opportunities are still available and can be found at www.gsa.gov/smallbusforecast and FedBizOpps (www.fbo.gov). Small businesses can also find subcontracting opportunities with Recovery projects on www.fbo.gov by searching for contracts that have been awarded, or to find advertised industry days or matchmaking events where they can meet prime contractors. Our small business advocates across the country can also help identify opportunities: www.gsa.gov/smallbizsupport.
The federal government contracts for more than $500 billion in spending each year. At the GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization, the mission is to help ensure small business success by fueling its growth and increasing its access to opportunities to do business with the federal government. 
Jiyoung Park is associate administrator in the Office of Small Business Utilization for the U.S. General Services Administration in Washington.
P | 202.502.1021
Local contacts: Pat Brown-Dixon or Karen Poole
P | 816.926.7201
E | Business.counseling@gsa.gov
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