TROY – A conference and trade fair will give small business owners and those who are thinking of starting a business a chance to get a leg up on the competition.

TROY’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Fort Rucker have teamed up to present the one-day conference, opportunity fair, and job fair from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at Aviator’s Landing on Fort Rucker.

Six sessions will be included in the conference, and include “Subcontracting with Picerne Military Housing”.  Picerne was recently awarded a contract to rebuild and refurbish all on-base military housing. The $162 million project will utilize subcontractors from across the Wiregrass area and target small businesses in the area.

“Picerne will use all types of contractors from the area and have committed to giving 70 percent of their contracts to small businesses,” said SBDC consultant Judy Callin.

Also included in the conference:

• Brian Davis, director of the Alabama International Trade Center , will discuss “Surviving in Today’s Global Market;”
• Randy Halcomb, a local entrepreneur, will discuss “Time Management for Small Business;”
• Loan officers from several area banks, two non-bank lenders, The Southeast Area Planning and Development Commission, and the Small Business Administration will discuss “Small Business Financing Options;”
• Daniel Martin and Frank Thompson, both economic development specialists, will present “Economic Incentives for Small Business;” and,
• Art Brown, a representative of the Atlanta Electronic Commerce Resource Center , will explain “Marketing on the Internet.”

Aside from the presentations, which run from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., a special “Matchmaker Event” will make representatives from various local, state, and federal government agencies and prime contractors available one-on-one with small business owners and managers.  Appointments are required for the meetings, and Callin urges businesses to contact the SBDC at 334-670-3771 prior to Aug. 24 to schedule a meeting.

Although the list could grow, she said, the following organizations have been invited to participate in the event: Fort Rucker Contracting Office, Eglin AFB Contracting Office, Maxwell AFB Contracting Office, Anniston Army Depot Contracting Office, Fort Benning Contracting Office, Robins AFB Contracting Office, General Services Administration, Corps of Engineers – Mobile District, Sikorsky Support Service, Lockheed Martin, Picerne Military Housing, Dixie Egg, APAC Southeast, Inc., City of Dothan, City of Enterprise, City of Ozark, City of Troy, Troy University Purchasing, Wallace College, and Enterprise Ozark Community College.

“The Matchmaker Event is for businesses that do business with the government,” Callin said. “It’s an outstanding opportunity for business people to meet face-to-face with the agencies they do business with.”

From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Fort Rucker will also host its Job Fair which teams those looking for employees with those people looking for jobs. More than 65 representatives will be available to prospective employees, and businesses may secure a booth for $50 by contacting ACAP at 334-255-2558 or ACS Employment Readiness Program at 334-255-3949.

Callin said there is no cost to attending the SBDC’s conference, nor Fort Rucker ’s job fair and pre-registration is not required.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment for the Matchmaker Event, contact the TROY Small Business Development Center at 334-670-3771.