New year, new potential clientele
Print
EmailWant a piece of nearly $100 billion in sales? Selling to the federal government gives you that chance.
With the start of a new year, a small business owner may think “How can I improve my sales next year?” Selling to the US Government (as well as State and Local government) can be that sales increase you’re looking for. With the US Government spending nearly $100 billion a year in small business goods and services, this is an opportunity worth exploring.
There are many experts and organizations throughout the State that can offer assistance and guidance to begin selling to the government. Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC's) are no-cost assistance services designed to help businesses market products and services to Federal, state and local governments.
Serving a 10 county region on the Northwest side of Michigan and the entire Upper Peninsula is Northwest Michigan PTAC. On the east side of Northern Michigan there’s the Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Northeast Michigan Consortium. Both organizations assist businesses who want to sell products and services to the federal, state, and local government.
Another resource is the Small Business Administration (SBA). They have a five step guide to begin selling to the US Government. The five steps are: registering as a Government Contractor, Get a Contract Vehicle, Get Expert Advice from procurement reps, identify your target market, and get bidding. To learn more about the SBA’s five steps click here.
Michigan State University Extension partner Northern Lakes Economic Alliance is another resource for assisting businesses in their four county region helping to teach them on how to sell their products and services to the Government. Through their assistance several businesses in Northern Michigan are successfully selling products to the government.
“Michigan State University Extension has had a unique relationship with the regional economic development organization Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) for more than 20 years. Recognizing the strength of combining resources, this partnership focuses on economic development, entrepreneurship growth and community infrastructure throughout a four-county region in the northwest Lower Peninsula, specifically Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties. As a result, the NLEA utilizes resources offered through MSU Extension as it provides leadership to state-wide programs sponsored by MSU Extension.”
