Approximately 20 small business owners from Shreveport and other cities across the state of Louisiana attended a small business workshop at the Petroleum Club of Shreveport during Shreveport/Bossier City Navy Week.

Small businesses are a vital part of the economy and help keep the country strong. The Department of the Navy (DoN) is committed to the small business community having the maximum opportunities to participate in the Navy’s acquisition program, both as prime contractors and subcontractors.

Emily Harman, director, Navy Office of Small Business Programs, served as the facilitator of the workshop and discussed the importance of small business to the Navy and how the DODs defense strategy provides opportunity for doing business with the Navy.

Harman talked about how small businesses can gain experience and demonstrate ability for the Navy to award a contract, stressing the importance of small businesses knowing what they are selling and how it fits into the Navy’s plan, and which portion of the Navy is their target customer.

“These workshops are another way of letting the public know about the Navy and what the Navy is doing for them; that’s why we cover more then just how to do business with us,” said Harman. “It’s another way of reaching an audience that might not be attending some of the other Navy Week events, to let them know what the Navy is doing for them.”

In fiscal year 2017, the Navy awarded $92 million in prime contract obligations to small businesses within the state of Louisiana, and over $328 million in prime contract obligations to all businesses headquartered in the state.

“Small businesses are agile, responsive and they create jobs in the United States,"  Harman continued. "They bring economic power to our nation. If we have a strong economy, we have a strong defense. If we have a weak economy, it impacts our abilities. There are ways to support the Navy, maybe not by being a Sailor or putting on a uniform, but by selling products and services to us and letting companies that want to do business with us know how to do it.”

The Northwest Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) offers counseling and training resources that help small businesses understand the federal contracting process. They work one-on-one with businesses to help them identify targets for their goods and services, assist them with registrations and certifications, locate current opportunities for them through the Bid Match Program and review and assist clients with their proposal packages. They also hold training and seminars for the community to help them learn how to sell to the government.

“We assist small businesses with selling products and services to all levels of the government," said Jennifer Whittington, contracting assistance specialist for the Northwest Louisiana PTAC. “Some of the challenges small businesses face are cutting through the red tape, lack of knowledge and confusion as far as the regulations go. That’s where we come in and try to make that process a little bit easier.”

“Small businesses are the foundation of our country; they have great things to offer, so it’s nice to be able to give the small businesses an advantage so that they can compete with the large companies,” said Whittington. “It allows us to keep the jobs and that money here in our communities.”

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's principal outreach effort in the areas of the country without a significant naval presence. More than 212 Navy Weeks have been held in 76 different U.S. cities.

For more information about Navy Week, visit www.outreach.navy.mil/, or follow the hashtag #NavyWeek.

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