The Oregon Governor’s Marketplace is an annual event in the spring that brings state and federal agencies to the Salem Convention Center in a reverse vendor situation. Small business owners attend to learn about how they can get contracts with these agencies, as well as network with other small business owners.
I attended this year’s Oregon Governor’s Marketplace for the first time a couple of days ago to learn about how my small business can tap into the large pool of money earmarked for businesses just like mine. After the day ended, I distilled down my experience into three main benefits of attending the Governor’s Marketplace.
Benefit #1: Access & Opportunity
Turns out, for minority and women-owned businesses, there are a lot of opportunities across the state of Oregon.
The morning was full of workshops that featured representatives from various agencies — from utility companies to state universities to healthcare companies — explain their supplier diversity programs and how to enroll in them. Each representative provided contact information and tips on how to connect with the right people inside the organizations. This kind of backstage access isn’t readily available to the general public, giving attendees an unfair advantage over those businesses that didn’t attend.
While enjoying a locally-sourced lunch including a fresh green salad accented with Oregon hazelnuts, I listened to Governor John Kitzhaber tell the room of 400+ guests how Oregon’s economy is in recovery, that the coming years look promising for small businesses across the state. Small businesses are at the center of that recovery, he emphasized, and the state wants to help us grow and keep dollars right here in our own communities.
Benefit #2: Certification Opens Many Doors
One of the clarion calls of the day was how important it was for all of us in attendance to get our businesses certified and registered in the state database so when a need for our services arises, the organizations who are looking to fulfill those slots can easily find us. Case studies were shared of small Oregon businesses who have landed contracts with agencies across the state, and how those contracts have helped them grow.
It became clear to me by the second workshop that while there is a lot of money available to invest in small businesses like mine, the path to get to that money is fraught with a thicket of regulatory brambles. After spending some time inside the portal going through the certification process for my business, I could see why more businesses aren’t certified.
It’s easy to get tangled up in those thorns as you make your way along the path toward certification. Despite the brambles, however, getting certified is definitely worth a few scratches. Without the certification, many of the contracts that were talked about throughout the day aren’t even available.
Benefit #3: Promising Outlook
The overall tone of the day was very encouraging and positive. I walked away with new insights about how I can grow my business while serving organizations right here in Oregon. I also met some great people who are entrepreneurs like me, making their way toward fulfilling their vision and dream of a better life.
For small Oregon business owners who are looking for low-cost or free resources to help them move their businesses forward, attending events like the Oregon Governor’s Marketplace is a must.
Given the incredible access all attendees got to people who can help us advance our businesses in the direction we want them to go, I will defintely be going back to next year’s Governor’s Marketplace.
