Laboratory hosts 'Outreach 2000' small business trade fair

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (00-135)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M.,Oct. 12, 2000 -- More than 90 businesses from throughout Northern New Mexico are participating in the "Outreach 2000," mini-trade fair Oct. 18 at Northern New Mexico Community College in Española.

The trade fair is sponsored by the Small Business Program Office of the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory, Strategic Learning Services and the State Procurement Assistance Program.

"The trade fair will give businesses in the seven-county region surrounding the Laboratory an opportunity to meet with regional procurement organizations and other business professionals. The networking could lead to new marketing opportunities," said Carlos Chacon of Los Alamos’ Small Business Program Office.

"A lot of these smaller businesses have not developed contacts at the local and state government levels," said Chacon. "We want these businesses in front of state and municipal government buyers and other agencies that have procurement opportunities available."

Joe Salgado, Los Alamos’ deputy director for business administration and outreach, will give opening remarks at the trade fair, followed by a brief overview of the Laboratory’s Small Business Program Office from Bennie Gonzales, the office’s program manager.

The Laboratory’s procurement operation will be represented by 80 buyers; buyers from Sandia National Laboratories, Intel Corp. and state government also will attend, said Chacon.

There will be workshops and discussions to let businesses learn information needed to conduct business with Los Alamos and with government agencies. Workshop topics include e-commerce initiatives and small business certification requirements, said Chacon. The trade show also presents regional businesses the opportunity to showcase their products or services, he added.

At noon, five businesses representing the Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance will be featured presenters, said Chacon. "By showcasing these businesses, other businesses can learn what it is they did that brought them to success so others will follow suit," said Chacon.

"We want to make sure that businesses can create a relationship that leads to business opportunities that are long lasting and sustainable," said Chacon. "The whole idea is to strengthen the economic development of the region through the business community."

Chacon noted that a provision in Los Alamos’ contract with the DOE requires the Laboratory to engage in economic development through increased procurement and business outreach activities.

Zia sponsors, those businesses providing $2,500 to help underwrite the trade fair, are Productive Data Solutions, Government Technology Services Inc., Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico and CJ Enterprises.

A number of businesses also are Mesa sponsors providing at least $500 to help underwrite the costs of the trade fair.

For more information, contact Los Alamos’ Small Business Office at 667-4410 or 1-800-472-9861, or Strategic Learning Services at 747-3824. Or go to http://buynorthern.lanl.gov online.

More news releases from the Business Operations (BUS) Division