The Region 6 Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) on June 19 will host the 5th Annual “Meet the Buyer” at the Food Bank of East Michigan, 1939 Howard St. in Flint.
Meet the Buyer, a free, half-day event from 8 a.m. to noon, brings together procurement officials from various local, regional, state and federal agencies and businesses with goods and services for sale. It is a forum designed to establish and nurture relationships that may a result in securing a government contract for small businesses
“This is one of the key procurement matchmaking and government contracting events in the state,” said PTAC Program Manager Jasmine McKenney. “For the prospective governmental agency, it’s an opportunity to meet face-to-face with business representatives and to familiarize themselves with businesses in the region that could satisfy their purchasing needs.”
“Likewise, it is a wonderful opportunity for business owners to connect with buyers at the city, state and federal government. Small businesses looking for diversification opportunities should attend.”
Attendees will rotate among different agency tables, learning how the organization buys, what they are buying, and other valuable procurement information. Each buyer has five minutes to share information about their organization and what they buy, followed by 15 minutes for attendees to briefly present their companies and ask questions.
To help businesses prepare, PTAC will hold a free coaching seminar on June 6, from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Flint & Genesee Chamber, 519 S. Saginaw St. Register now for the Meet the Buyer Prep
PTAC counselors will be on hand to help craft and critique “elevator pitches”; review marketing proposals; and discuss some of the “Dos and Donts” of networking. PTAC can also assist sellers with research on what the purchasers are buying or have bought in the past. Businesses that have participated in previous Meet the Buyer events will also be present to provide some perspective.
“This is kind of developed organically. It helps to make for a richer experience for first-time participants to hear from those who have gone before,” McKenney said.
This year’s roster of buyers include:
- Ann Arbor Transit Authority
- Consumers Energy
- Department of Technology, Management and Budget – State of Michigan
- Great Lakes Water Authority
- Genesee County Road Commission
- Oakland County
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce
- Mass Transportation Authority
- Bay Metro Transit
- Mott Community College
- University of Michigan-Flint
- STARS—Saginaw Transit Authority and Regional Services
- City of Flint
- TACOM—U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command Detroit Arsenal
- Hurley Medical Center
- Michigan Department of Transportation
Resource partners will also be in attendance and available for discussion on how to start, grow and expand businesses, including: the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center and VetBiz Central/Veterans Business Outreach Center.
To register, visit flintandgenesee.org/meet-the-buyer.
For more information, contact PTAC Counselor Amanda Stuart at or (810) 600-1414.