Overview:

SBA’s GULF COAST BUSINESS MATCHMAKING initiative has been created to assist small businesses whose primary customer base has been greatly decreased, displaced or in some cases eliminated by the affects of Hurricane Katrina. GULF COAST BUSINESS MATCHMAKING will provide accelerated access to contracting opportunities with federal, state and local government agencies, their prime contractors and major corporations. These participating procurement organizations will offer contract opportunities for both the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region, as well as ongoing procurement opportunities.

The initial phase of the Initiative involves registering small businesses to participate. November 1-9, 2005, the SBA will conduct a mobile outreach and registration tour in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama utilizing a specially-equipped RV along with program staff to assist small businesses in registering for participation. Registration is specifically for small business owners in the effective areas who are currently registered in the Central Contractor Registry (www.CCR.gov) and who provide primary contact information including a description of their business, its capabilities, and keywords to describe products/services. With this information entered into the registration database, the Business Matchmaking team will coordinate on-going connections between small businesses and procurement officials from Federal, state and local government agencies, prime contractors and major corporations involved in the recovery and rebuilding effort. In addition to these appointments, participating small businesses will be able to receive counseling, loan assistance and additional procurement and business support from SBA, SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Center and other local SBA resource partners.

SBA’s GULF COAST BUSINESS MATCHMAKING initiative is being provided to disaster area small businesses that are prepared to take advantage of what may be, in many cases, immediate contract opportunities. For this reason, participation in the GULF COAST BUSINESS MATCHMAKING initiative is expressly for those small businesses that are currently registered in the Central Contractor Registry and have the ability to immediately respond to contract opportunities with supplies, services, employees, etc. SBA is prepared to assist small businesses that are not part of CCR with their registration. Please visit www.ccr.gov to begin the process.

For specific questions concerning mobile registration locations, dates and participation, please visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov.