UHV SBDC to offer training on government contracts, business applications
The University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center will offer two training workshops to area entrepreneurs who want to learn about how to apply for and be eligible to receive government contracts, as well as what is required to be designated a Historically Underutilized Business in Texas.
On March 21, the UHV SBDC will host a morning and afternoon workshop presented by a representative from the Del Mar Procurement Technical Assistance Center. The morning workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 will be “Government Contracting 101,” and the afternoon session from 1:30 to 3:30 will be “The TxHUB Program With Application Preparation.” Both workshops are free and open to the public. They will take place in the UHV SBDC offices on the fourth floor of Victoria Tower, 1908 N. Laurent St.
“Government contracts and Historically Underutilized Business certifications are important topics that can benefit many businesses in our area,” UHV SBDC Director Lindsay Young said. “We’re excited to partner with the Del Mar center to offer this training to Crossroads businesses and help them find ways to reach new levels of success.”
In “Government Contracting 101,” small business owners will have the opportunity to learn about the considerations and procedures needed to sell to federal, state and local agencies. The workshop will look at the factors necessary to market to and obtain government contracts, including regulations, laws, terminology, certifications and classifications.
“Government contracts at various levels procure $600 million in products and services every year,” said Whitney Schroeder, UHV SBDC training coordinator. “There are some major benefits to securing a government contract, and we want our area businesses to have the training needed to compete for these opportunities.”
“The TxHUB Program With Application Preparation” workshop will focus on what a business owner needs to do to receive certification as a Historically Underutilized Business in Texas. To be a HUB, a business must be for-profit, below a certain size, operate mainly in Texas, and be at least 51 percent owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American woman or service disabled veteran who lives in Texas and actively participates in the business’s control, operations and management.
Certified businesses are more likely to be considered for local, state and federal government contracts and are included on the Centralized Master Bidders List. The list functions as a directory of HUB-certified businesses.
During the workshop, attendees will learn about the documentation required to receive a HUB certification, get an in-depth look at the HUB application and discuss best practices about how to be added to the Centralized Master Bidders List.
“Certification as a HUB can be a major boost,” Schroeder said. “Many state agencies are required to have a certain percentage of their contracts handled by HUBs, and being part of the Centralized Master Bidders List can help businesses get their name out to clients who might not otherwise know about them.”
To learn more about the workshops or register to attend, visit www.uhv.edu/small-business/training. The registration deadline for the workshops is March 20.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
