North Texas Small Business Development Center - Center for Government Contracting

The 2009 Salute to Small Business Awards

The US Small Business Administration congratulates the following recipients:

Small Business Person of the Year - Ms. Anna "Beth" Fouse, President of Ark-La-Tex Shredding Company, Inc. in Tyler (Tyler SBDC)

Jeffrey Butland Family-owned Business of the Year - Ms. Reginalea "Reggi" Kemp, President of Kemp & Sons (Center for Government Contracting SBDC)

Small Business Journalist of the Year - Mr. Roy Lee Lemons, President/Publisher /Owner (North Central Texas SBDC)

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year - Ms. Marina Bhargava, Director of Business, The Meed Center in Dallas (Dallas SBDC)

Veteran Small Business of the Year - Lt. Colonel Golda T. Eldridge (Retired), Small Business Consultant, McLennan Community College SBDC (McLennan SBDC)

Financial Services Champion of the Year - Mr. David W. Stewart, Owner, D. W. Stewart Companies (Trinity Valley SBDC)

Home-Based Business Champion of the Year - Ms. Jacklyn Tinsley King, Co-Owner, P.O.P. Acres Ranch & Farm (Navarro SBDC)

Torrez Paper Company, Inc.

Read about one of our newest success stories! click here

Lorraine McCord named North Texas State Star

Lorraine McCord was named 2008 North Texas State Star at the ASBDC’s Annual Conference. read more

North Texas SBDC Network’s 2007 Annual Report

Herbert Austin Named District Director for Dallas/Fort Worth District Office read more

Frequently Asked Questions...

I want to start a small business, where do I begin?

First, make an appointment to receive counseling, free of charge, from your local SBDC. Among other talents, our advisors are adept at helping you write a business plan, the "roadmap" for your venture. read more

How much money will I need to start?

You will need two pots of money. One pot will pay for the things you need just to get your new business started. The other pot is to pay your operating costs until your business reaches break-even – that point where you are taking in the same amount of money you are paying out. read more

Can I get a grant?

Contrary to popular belief, grants of cash for business are virtually nonexistent. There are rare instances where a cash grant has been given for some highly specialized type of business or for some unusual situation, but for the great majority of business situations, there are no cash grants. read more

Where can I get help in starting a small business?

Go to the people who know about small business. This includes Small Business Development Centers. There are over 950 in the United States and their counseling services are free. S.C.O.R.E., which is staffed by retired business executives, is another free source of help. read more

Center for Government Contracting SBDC

Our goal is to help your business grow. For the 49-county northeast Texas area, we serve as a liaison between you and a variety of business organizations all committed to the same objective – building a solid, long-term relationship that will help your company improve and grow.

Whether it’s helping you identify new government markets or assisting you with preparing bid documents, the expert technical assistance we provide eliminates the red tape and helps you overcome the challenges you face as a business owner.

Get the Facts

Government is the largest buyer in the U.S.
Government buys over $750 billion in products and services annually
Government is a reliable, continuous source of business
Government buys all types of supplies and services, including construction

Consider the Benefits

Minimize time-consuming tracking of bid opportunities
Complete government buying correctly the first time
Stay up-to-date on changes in buying regulations
Retrieve bid information instantly using latest technology

Helping Your Business Make It Happen

Experienced procurement specialists
Customized services tailored to your company’s needs
Access to thousands of government buying opportunities
Extensive assistance at each stage of the contracting process
Training to assist your business in complying with government requirements
Results, not words!

Our Services and Resources Include:

Automated bid matching from thousands of buying offices, tailored to individual client specifications
Assistance in obtaining solicitations, references, specifications, and drawings from buying offices
Assistance with obtaining certification as a small, minority-owned or woman-owned business
Networking opportunities with general contractors and trade organizations
Market research to locate government agencies that buy your products or services
Referrals to other assistance activities
Access to library of federal, state and local procurement resources
Assistance with bid package preparation
Information on federal/state/local procurement actions
Information on electronic commerce/electronic data interchange
Pre/post-award contract assistance
Workshops and seminars on a variety of contracting topics
Assistance with preparing bidders mailing list applications
Help in locating subcontracting opportunities
Assistance with marketing on the Internet

Seminars/Workshops

This series of seminars helps small business owners learn how to offer goods and services to government agencies. Click here for workshop & seminar schedule.

In addition to the services described above, the Government Contracting SBDC, in coordination with its host organization, the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development, provides business counseling and training services to the small businesses located in the Business Incubation Center (BIC) at the Institute. For more information on the BIC, including how to become a tenant, call 214-860-5900.

Visit Government Contracting and Business Development for more information on government contracting.

Contact Center for Government Contracting SBDC:

Charles Waldrop, Director

Bill J. Priest Institute of El Centro College

1402 Corinth Street
Dallas, Texas 75215

Phone: (214) 860-5841
Fax: (214) 860-5889
Email: s.rodriguez@dcccd.edu