Author: Maria Alleman, Washington APEX Accelerator Counselor - [email protected]

Area businesses aiming to work with local school districts had the opportunity to make connections with district representatives during the Meet the Buyer workshop on June 27.

The sold-out session featured insightful discussions beneficial to small business owners. Takeaways included the importance of carefully reading solicitations for requirements, the need to respond to every aspect of a solicitation, and the need to adhere to strict timelines in order to be considered.

Thank you to Washington River Protection Solutions for sponsoring the Meet the Buyer program.

The Regional Chamber's in-house Washington APEX Accelerator Counselor, Maria Alleman, attended the Latino Civic Alliance Small Business Workshop in Quincy, WA on Wednesday, June 26. She had the opportunity to present to a group of enthusiastic Spanish-speaking small business owners and entrepreneurs. During the presentation, the focus was on the fundamentals of government contracting and how to effectively work with government agencies. This topic is crucial for small businesses looking to expand their operations and tap into new revenue streams.

If your business in looking to earn government contracts, consider reaching out to Maria for guidance! Get started: https://washingtonapex.ecenterdirect.com/signup​.

Washington APEX Accelerator and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce held the first "Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government" workshop of the year on Thursday, May 30. Attendees learned about navigating procurement portals, certifications, understanding contract types, and more. Two sessions were held - one in English, one in Spanish - in order to better serve the diverse Tri-Cities community.

The "Yes, You Can! Contracts with the Government" workshop series is designed to equip local business owners with the tools and knowledge needed in the realm of government procurement. The program is generously sponsored by Tire Factory.

​The next session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, 2024 (registration will open soon). 

​Washington State Department of Labor and Industries hosted a free training for construction workers at Yakima Valley College on Friday, April 19, 2024.
 
Maria Alleman, an Advisor with the Washington APEX Accelerator, delivered a comprehensive class titled “How to Find Bids and Market to Government Agencies”. Aimed at contractors and suppliers of goods and services seeking success in government contracting this session provided valuable insights. Attendees gained knowledge on locating bid opportunities within Washington State and implementing best practices for marketing to government agencies.
 
The Washington APEX Accelerator program plays a pivotal role in assisting businesses to prepare for, identify, and pursue bid opportunities. With eight centers spread across various regions, the program supports businesses in navigating federal, state, and local government contracting processes. Maria Alleman operates within Region 8, which is hosted by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and extends its services to Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Grant, Klickitat, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties.
 
For further details, please reach out directly to Washington APEX Accelerator via their website at https://washingtonapex.org.

On Tuesday, December 19, the Regional Chamber, Washington APEX Accelerator, and Washington River Protection Solutions hosted the final Meet the Buyer session for 2023. Meet the Buyer: Doing Business with General Contractors connected attendees with representatives from local general contracting companies. Attendees learned about key trends and opportunities that subcontractors should be aware of, successful strategies to establish strong relationships with buyers, and more.

Thanks to all of the attendees and presenters for joining us for this valuable session. Special thanks to Washington River Protection Solutions for sponsoring the Meet the Buyer program.