Opportunities in a Recession-Federal Government Contracting, Exports, and Int'l Contract Procurement

Turn this recession into an opportunity at EngEx 2010, a conference & exhibition focused on energy, water, infrastructure, and environmental technologies, being held at the San Diego Convention Center. Nine federal government agencies will be hosting over 30 workshops to create business opportunities in this great recession.

Federal Government Contracts

The federal government awards over $500 billion in contracts each year, and federal agencies are required to establish contracting goals with at least 23 percent of all government buying targeted to small businesses.

Selling to the federal government can provide significant revenues for your business and the process is not as complicated as you may think. There are many federal contracting opportunities for small businesses, but to take advantage of them you have to know the ins and outs of the government's contracting rules and regulations. Of the more than 20 million small businesses in the United States, only about 500,000 are currently in a position to do business with the federal government. That's not because they are the only ones capable of doing the work; it's because they are the only ones that know how to get the work.

EngEx provides workshops that are hosted by the SBA which can help you position your company for contracting opportunities. These will help you to understand the basics of selling to the government, show you how to get started, pursue opportunities, and provide resources that will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fund & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

There is plenty of government grant money for start-ups that know where to look. The two main grant categories are Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) grants.
Total size: about $2.2 billion annually provided to some 6,000 small businesses (defined as those with fewer than 500 employees).

If you have a compelling idea that needs funding, attend the EngEx 2010 conference and learn about how to get access to these government grants, the process, and expectations.

The World Bank Funded Projects

In 2009, in response to the economic crisis, the World Bank promised to substantially increase its lending, particularly to middle income countries.
Provisional figures released by the Bank show that it spent a record $58.8 billion in fiscal year 2009 (which ended in June), $20.6 billion more than the previous fiscal year.

David W. Fulton, the director of ITA's liaison office at the World Bank is now confirmed to lead an educational session at EngEx 2010 entitled "Identifying Contract and Consulting Opportunities at the World Bank." He will also be available for exclusive one-on-one counseling sessions after the presentation for select attendees to network and discuss external market opportunities for their products and services.

Department of Commerce & US Ex-Im Bank

Fewer than 1 percent of America's 30 million companies export, a significantly smaller percentage than those of other developed countries.
Of the companies that export, two-thirds export to only one country. Those with fewer than 20 employees represent 72 percent of the exporters and 14.2 percent of the value of goods exported.

During his State of the Union address, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative, a program aimed at doubling American exports in five years. As part of the initiative, the Obama administration increased the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration budget by 20 percent to $540 million to help advocate for American businesses abroad. The administration also called on the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which provides export financing when private banks cannot or will not, to increase financing for small and medium-sized businesses to $6 billion from $4 billion over the next year.

The U.S. Department of Commerce will also lead a session at EngEx 2010 on how to tap government resources to find international buyers and the U.S. Ex-Im Bank will lead a session on how to get financing for the exports. These agencies combined will provide an insightful resources for increasing sales in the International Markets.

After the sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with the agencies to discuss the resources available. Along with the government agencies, there will be prime contractors, banks, and micro lenders available in the exhibit hall.

EngEx 2010 conference & exhibition creates opportunities by uniting 39 fields of engineering for collaboration, integration and to exhibit innovation. The goal of EngEx is to bring engineers, business leaders, government agencies, students, professors, and researchers together to collaborate about practical solutions that address today's energy, water, infrastructure, and environmental concerns and to help revive the economy.

Advanced registration for the conference is now available online at www.engexpo.com and high demand is already being experienced for this opportunity conference.

Exhibition space at the conference is also going quick. To avoid being locked out of the most prestigious conference targeting the water, energy, transportation and environmental industries, please visit www.engexpo.com to register.