Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) Around the Country Celebrate the Success of their Small Business Clients

KIRTLAND, Ohio – For 33 years, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) have helped expand the number of small businesses that successfully compete for and win federal, state and local government contracts. This September, PTACs from around the country are coming together for one special day to celebrate the success of the tens of thousands of small businesses who have benefited from training and technical assistance delivered by their local PTACs.

As part of this celebration, Lakeland Community College’s Northeast Ohio PTAC will host a special event at the Holden University Center on Sept. 26, 2018, from 8 to 10 a.m. Businesses will have the opportunity to learn some basics about diversifying their market footprint through local, state and federal contracting with the help of PTAC services, as well as meet some local small businesses who have been successful in their contracting efforts. In addition, businesses will have the opportunity to learn about the following:

  • How to find qualified employees utilizing Lakeland Community College’s Career Services department.
  • How to tie into degree and certificate programs through Lakeland Community College’s Recruitment Center.
  • How to finance business expansion through Lakeland Community College’s Small Business Capital Corporation of Ohio’s 504 loan program.
  • How to get additional services to help their business provided by the Cleveland District’s office of the Small Business Administration.

Lakeland’s Northeast Ohio PTAC program had a very successful Fiscal Year 2017. Between February 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 PTAC met with 365 businesses in northeast Ohio. Their clients reported 1,116 federal government contract awards totaling over $67,333,432. Lakeland’s PTAC office serves the business community in Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Erie and Huron counties.

Ninety-five Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) – with over 300 local offices – form a nationwide network of more than 600 dedicated procurement professionals who work to help local businesses successfully sell their products and services to government agencies. In 2017, the PTAC network served over 48,000 clients and helped them win over $20 billion in government contracts and subcontracts. The more successful our nation’s small businesses are in the government marketplace, the stronger our regional and national economies grow.

More information about Lakeland PTAC office is available at lakelandcc.edu/ptac.

About the PTAC Program: The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) was authorized by Congress in 1985 in an effort to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in the government marketplace. Administered by the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the program provides matching funds through cooperative agreements with state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to operate Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) for the purpose of providing procurement assistance to all businesses – particularly small businesses –  interested in participating in the government marketplace. Learn more at http://www.aptac-us.org.