Small business owners learn about government contracting

DERIDDER, La. (KPLC) – Several aspiring and current small business owners gathered in DeRidder today to learn more about landing government contracts for their services.

In 2023, the U.S. government spent $3.6 billion on Louisiana goods and services. Of that figure, $2.3 billion in federal contracts were awarded to small businesses, resulting in economic growth on a federal, state, and local level.

So what exactly is government contracting? Simply put, it is a financial opportunity for small businesses.

The U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services. Government contracting allows small business owners a chance to get a piece of that pie.

“It can range anywhere from embroidery to sewing, to construction or information technology and providing office supplies. There’s a number of things the government has a need for,” Jo Lawrence with the Small Business Administration of Louisiana said.

Mary Hill says opportunities like this one will help her take her small business to the next level.

“Right now I’m limited to just my broker, so being in transportation, I have a broker. But with this opportunity, I’m limitless with the government contracts that may be specific to me,” Mary Hill of Mayberry Transportation said.

During this two-hour session, the government’s process for buying goods and services was explained, as was registering a business with the U.S. System for Award Management and best practices for finding and obtaining federal contracts.

“Talking to other women, minority women, is definitely encouraging, just to see the difficulties that they are also experiencing. I don’t feel alone. Having those tools and just the camaraderie, being able to give those business cards to the hosts and the other business owners, I never knew how we can help each other,” Hill said.

If you’re interested in learning more about operating a small business, there’s a Lunch and Learn on the second Wednesday of each month at the Beauregard Chamber of Commerce.

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