There are many opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to work with the government — on the local and federal levels, as well as with branches of the military. Annette Brenner, Senior Business Advisor with NextCorps’ Growth Services, moderated a roundtable discussion with leaders from the Air Force Research Lab, Monroe County, and the Monroe County Finger Lakes Procurement Technical Assistance Center on how to best approach government contract opportunities, and the specific programs and incentives available to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Monroe County.
Guests:
Anna Vulaj Fitzsimmons, Program Director for the Monroe County Finger Lakes Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MCFL PTAC)
Ana Liss, Director of Planning and Development for Monroe County; Executive Director of the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA), and the Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC)
Denise Lee, SBIR/STTR Program Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate-RI; AFWERX Liaison
Other programs / acronyms discussed:
- MEP = Manufacturing Extension Partnership
- MWBE = Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises
- SAM = System for Award Management
- SBA = Small Business Administration
- SBIR = Small Business Innovation Research
- STTR = Small Business Technology Transfer
