"Bid & Breakfast"

By Barbara Merryfield, Marketing Intern

Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services  
in partnership with the Southern Oakland Chapter NAACP will  present the 6th annual “Bid & Breakfast” government vendor seminar on October 3.  This educational workshop will teach smaller business owners how to overcome the bonding, insurance and financing issues that often exclude them from federal, state, county and city contracts. “These are the key areas where many small businesses fail to qualify,” said Lola Aré, Oakland County Senior Business Development Representative.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Chuck Stokes, Editorial & Public Affairs Director for WXYX-TV, will deliver opening remarks.  Presentations from experts in the  fields of insurance and banking will follow, offering real-world solutions to business owners.

“Small business owners need to attend in order to understand the options available to them,” said Aré. “What they will learn is not common knowledge.”

The event will conclude with a Resource Walk, which will offer participants the opportunity to  meet directly with government purchasing agents. These procurement specialists will provide detailed information on a wide range of topics including vendor registration procedures, preparation, research tools and typical RFQs (request for quotes).

The 2006 “Bid & Breakfast” participants gave overwhelmingly positive responses about the event:

“You get the information first hand.”

“It is simply an excellent for resource for small businesses to compete in their market.”

 “It’s an opportunity to meet representatives from the various departments”

Minority and women entrepreneurs with a small to mid-sized business are encouraged to attend. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road Building 41, Waterford. Tickets are $40 payable at the door.

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please contact Nancy Peter, Oakland County Business Consultant Assistant, at 248-858-0783.

“Bid & Breakfast” is supported by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.