A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.
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The United States Air Force has begun the process of replacing the Minuteman III missile system, and this could be a big opportunity for small businesses in Wyoming. Much of the work should be administered from the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne.
A project of this scale means there will be opportunities for entrepreneurs from virtually every industry, including food services, construction and other related businesses. The economic impact of a project of this size and scope will be tremendous for the state.
Congress recently allocated $90 billion for the modernization of the ground-based strategic deterrent weapons system. The engineering and design phase of this project is estimated to begin in 2020 with completion expected in 2029. The prime contractor for this project will soon be chosen, and that is when small businesses throughout the state will have the opportunity to offer products or services.
Now is the time to act and become “contract ready.” Entrepreneurs will need to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System number; register in the System for Award Management; see whether they qualify for any of the Department of Defense’s socio-economic programs; and learn how to respond to solicitations. It may seem overwhelming at first, but there are plenty of resources in Wyoming to help you prepare.
The Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and various state partners will host the following no-cost webinars to help Wyoming business owners achieve contract readiness:
-- March 27: HUBZone and 8(a) certification.
-- April 10: Women/veteran-owned small business certifications.
-- May 1: Pitching to government agencies.
-- May 15: Responding to federal contracting solicitations.
If you need help wading through the government jargon and the rules, the Wyoming PTAC exists solely to provide assistance at no charge. You can contact your local adviser, register for an upcoming webinar, and access a handful of webinar recordings now at www.wyomingsbdc.org.
The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922.