Diversity Business Expo

Description

Minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small businesses interested in working with local governments can network with government and nonprofit representatives at the East Tennessee Purchasing Association’s (ETPA) 5th Annual Diversity Business Expo on Thursday, March 7.

The event will be held from 8:30-11 a.m. at Bridgewater Event Center, located at 205 Bridgewater Road off Interstate 40 in West Knoxville. Attendees should register at no charge at eventbrite.com/e/diversity-business-expo-2024-tickets-757854452067.

Representatives from government agencies, including purchasing departments and small purchase decision makers, will engage in intentional conversations about including diverse businesses in procurement processes.

A breakfast will be held from 8-8:30 a.m. prior to the start of the expo, which also will include educational sessions at 9 and 10 a.m. on “Credit for Small Businesses” by John Nolan, manager of community and business development at Y-12 Federal Credit Union.

Participating governments and agencies include Blount County, City of Chattanooga, City of Knoxville, Hamilton County, Hamilton County Schools, Knox County, Knoxville Metropolitan Airport Authority, Knoxville Utilities Board, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, Public Building Authority, Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee Valley Authority and University of Tennessee system.

Representatives from City of Knoxville departments will include Parks & Recreation; Housing and Neighborhood Development; Public Service; Knoxville Police Department; Knoxville Fire Department; Fleet Services; Purchasing; and Engineering.

Additionally, ASM Global, which manages the Knoxville Convention Center and other city-owned facilities, will attend and be available to answer questions about the company’s service and purchasing needs.

“Events like these are important to our community because they facilitate connections between local, diverse, minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, businesses owned by persons with disabilities and the agencies that are looking to do business with them,” City of Knoxville Purchasing Agent Penny Owens said. “One of the city’s goals is to increase the percentage of business we do annually with our diverse businesses.”