Black Hawk Community College Event Attracts Nearly 100 Local Companies Interested in Business Opportunities in the Homeland Security Market
MOLINE - Continuing to meet his commitment to make Illinois the nation's homeland security market leader, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's administration held a successful homeland security contracting and matchmaking forum for nearly 100 businesses at The Mark in the Quad Cities today. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) Homeland Security Market Development (HSMD) Bureau organized the forum in partnership with the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) and the Homeland Security Procurement Technical Assistance Center (HSPTAC) at the College of DuPage. The forum was the third of four matchmaking forums being held throughout Illinois in order to give businesses interested in the homeland security market an in-depth educational guide to federal, state and local government procurement opportunities in the $45 billion homeland security industry.
"We are committed to assisting Illinois companies in becoming top competitors in the homeland security industry by showing them how to service the needs of both business and government. Helping these companies grow means a safer country and more Illinois jobs," Gov. Blagojevich said.
The forums provide practical insight on doing business with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), guidelines for writing successful proposals, market analysis and information gathering techniques, an overview of DHS contracting agencies and their functions and a discussion of the current State of Illinois procurement systems. Today, attendees learned directly from Paul Campbell, director of CMS, the agency that purchases billions of dollars in products and services needed by state government each year.
"There are countless local businesses that can provide important homeland security products and services to the state, and Gov. Blagojevich and I are encouraging them to compete for these contracts. It's important for more Illinois entrepreneurs to learn about doing business with the state, because more companies competing is better for both taxpayers and businesses," CMS Director Campbell said.
The presentation helped local homeland security entrepreneurs gain insight about securing business with the state, including tips about enrolling as a state supplier, registering products and services offered, and enrolling in the Small Business Set Aside and Business Enterprise Programs. The state continues to look to small businesses to supply homeland security products and services, including tools, sanitation supplies, advanced technology, clothing and countless other items.
"The Homeland Security Procurement Technical Assistance Center plays an integral role in helping Illinois companies bring homeland security contracting dollars to Illinois," DCEO Director Jack Lavin said. "These forums give Illinois businesses a leg up in competing for these contracts by showing them how to develop the knowledge of available opportunities and the relationships with key industry contractors that they need to grow their business, which will help them create lasting jobs for today and tomorrow."
The next and final forum is set for June 14th at John A. Logan College in Carterville and will include a focus on writing for U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contracts. To register to attend the next forum, please contact HSPTAC Director Rita Hatcher-Haake at 630/942.2616 or email hsptac@cdnet.cod.edu.
HSPTAC was established in 2005 specifically to help Illinois businesses compete for public sector homeland security contracts. In addition to hosting a series of conferences and forums, HSPTAC features a specialized in-take process, business opportunity listings, relevant training sessions and ongoing relationship building with federal agencies through HSMD. HSPTAC is focused on keeping track of the issues and trends in the rapidly changing homeland security industry. For more information on HSPTAC, visit www.cod.edu/BPI/hsptac.htm.
DCEO's Homeland Security Market Development Bureau is focused on supporting businesses engaged in the homeland security industry. HSMD offers a variety of investment tools designed to help existing Illinois companies expand operations and utilize available state and federal programs and services. For more information on HSMD, visit www.hsmd.illinois.gov.
Eligible businesses are encouraged to enroll in CMS' Small Business Set Aside and Business Enterprise Programs by contacting 1-866-ILL-BUYS or visiting www.business.illinois.gov. Besides registering for these special programs, business owners are encouraged to register their product or service specialties on the Illinois Procurement Bulletin. Once enrolled, they automatically receive email notification when the State of Illinois is requesting bids or proposals in their product or service category.
Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges. Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.