The Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore Integration Partnership and BLocal to Host ”Procuring Opportunity: A Procurement & Reverse Vendor Fair for Small Businesses”

Baltimore’s largest organizations, enterprises and anchor institutions offer insight and candid responses on securing business, certifications for government contracts, and procurement best practices

BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / January 31, 2019 / The Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Baltimore Integration Partnership (BIP) and BLocal, today announced that it would host “Procuring Opportunity,” on Friday February 15th from 7:30 to 12:00 PM. There is no cost to attend, but advance registration is required.

This event, hosted at Morgan State University, Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management, is an open forum for small businesses to engage and learn about purchasing processes and opportunities for securing contracts from Baltimore City’s anchor institutions and corporations.

“For small businesses looking for guidance on how to do business with both City government and Baltimore’s largest institutions and enterprises, the 2nd Annual Procurement & Reverse Vendor Fair is a once-a-year forum to connect directly with decision-makers,” said Eben Frederick, President, Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce. “We are honored to work with organizations like the Baltimore Integration Partnership and BLocal that share our singular focus on our City’s long-term economic success.”

Frederick added, “In addition to a panel discussion around best practices and procurement processes with our anchor institutions and large corporate entities, this year we have four different workshops planned for small businesses. We have one that focuses on Certifications and Government contractracting at all levels, City, State and Federal. And another one which will focus on teaching the best techniques for sub-contractors to win more construction jobs taking place throughout the city. In the BLocal 101 workshop attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the program and how they can leverage their participation to grow their business. Lastly, Baltimore has an amazing maker, arts and culinary community, in partnership with Made in Baltimore and Cureate, we will discuss how these entrepreneurs can increase capacity through available resources and best practices when working with our anchor institutions. Frankly, we will have something for truly any type business who’s actively looking for new opportunities for growth through education and networking.”

WHO: The Baltimore Integration Partnership
The Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce
BLocal

WHAT: Procuring Opportunity

WHEN: Friday, February 15, 2019 (7:30 AM – 12:00 PM)

WHERE: Morgan State University: Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management
4100 Hillen Rd
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

Secure your registration today!

The Baltimore Integration Partnership is an eight-year-old collective impact initiative working with 14 area higher education institutions and healthcare providers, also known as anchor institutions, to stimulate economic development and job creation.

Executive Director for Community Engagement at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and Co-Chair of the BIP Governance Board, Ashley Valis, stated that, “Baltimore’s higher education institutions and hospitals continue to seek out ways to connect procurement and spending opportunities to local firms to support economic development and job growth. The vendor fair is an excellent way for businesses to learn about institutional purchasing processes, upcoming needs, and engage directly with procurement representatives.”

BLocal is a commitment by 28 Baltimore-area businesses and anchor institutions to leverage their collective influence to help strengthen the city and create opportunities for Baltimoreans.

“The success of Baltimore’s small businesses is critical to our city’s long-term economic prosperity,” said Crystal Burns, the small business and supplier diversity lead at Johns Hopkins University. “Collective commitments, like BLocal, keep us accountable to the city and allow us to be a resource to one another. We share vendors and information to help give small businesses more visibility. We are all connected and actively working to build an ecosystem where small businesses thrive, create jobs and continue to invigorate our community.

“BLocal is proud to join forces with the BIP and the Baltimore City Chamber, and host Procuring Opportunity to open new doors to individuals and small businesses tying our community together in new ways.”

Baltimore is nationally recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, and together, will continue to thrive and ascend to unprecedented heights to continue to make Baltimore a great place to live, work and play.

Contact us today! For sponsorship opportunities or information on registration, please contact the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce at 410-948-0920 or by email at eben@baltimorecitychamber.org.

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As the voice of Baltimore businesses, the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce’s focus is to serve as a forum through which members are able to grow their respective businesses. Programs and initiatives foster collaboration long-term growth, and development, and each campaign is designed to promote both members and the City’s core value propositions. The Chamber is committed to advocating for the continuing adoption of a pro-business agenda by the City of Baltimore and the region on behalf of its members.

For additional Information on membership please visit www.baltimorecitychamber.org

ABOUT THE BALTIMORE INTEGRATION PARTNERSHIP

The Baltimore Integration Partnership (BIP) is a collaborative partnership of anchor institutions, funders, nonprofits and public organizations focused on establishing economic inclusion as the business culture of norm in the Baltimore region. The BIP is hosted at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers and funded by Living Cities, the Surdna Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation and receives other generous support by the Goldseker Foundation, Associated Black Charities, and the Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative.

For additional information, please visit http://www.abagrantmakers.org/mpage/BaltimorePartnership.

ABOUT BLOCAL

BLocal was launched in 2016 by 25 businesses that came together to further help the city become a place where all of its citizens can prosper. It is led by Co-Chairs Ronald Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University and Kevin Sowers, President of the Johns Hopkins Health System and Executive Vice President of Johns Hopkins Medicine and Calvin Butler, CEO of BGE.

Since its founding the partners have reported millions in increased spending with city and diverse suppliers, increased hiring and internships for city residents, and more support of community organizations. Today, twenty-eight BLocal Partners set public goals annually to expand their impact when making decisions about building, hiring, buying, and investing.

CONTACT

Mostafa Razzak
JMRConnect (for Baltimore City Chamber)
410.989.6300
m.razzak@jmrconnect.net

SOURCE: Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce

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