9th Annual Native American Procurement Conference This Week

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$4B in Financings

Native Brief: SAN DIEGO - The 9th Annual Native American Procurement Conference will be held at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. The conference will run from Wednesday, July 27 - Friday, July 29.

The conference is a contracting and procurement event that focuses on bringing capable, qualified small businesses (sellers) together with corporate, federal, state, local and tribal buyers in a personalized and relaxed setting.

Various learning sessions that cover a broad spectrum of business principles are scheduled throughout the conference. Jim Gray, Executive Director of the Native American Contractors Association will be a speaker at a session on the SBA 8a program.

Alex Doñé, Associate Director of the Minority Business Development Agency at the US Department of Commerce will be the keynote speaker at the networking luncheon on Friday.

Mr. Doñé oversees the Agency's business development activities, capital access initiatives and grants and program administration. In Fiscal Year 2010, the Minority Business Development Agency assisted minority businesses in securing nearly $4 billion in financings and private and/or public sector contracts, which in turn led these minority businesses to create more than 6,300 jobs.

Owned by the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the palatial US GRANT hotel is situated in the city's lively and historic downtown Gaslamp Quarter, just steps from top shopping, dining, and entertainment, and a short drive from the San Diego's world-renowned beaches, museums and family attractions.

posted July 25, 2011 6:00 am edt