Washington, DC—The Government of the District of Columbia is partnering with the federal government and local partners to implement HUBDC, an innovative national pilot to get more small businesses enrolled in the Us Small Business Administration's (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program. With an initiative launch in February, a HUBDC Boot Camp event in March, and today's business opportunities session, the HUBDC initiative has built momentum, working directly with nearly 100 businesses to either apply for or maximize contract awards in March and helping approximately 75 businesses identify and connect with business opportunities today.
"The District is committed to ensuring that Dc businesses have real-time access to business opportunities," said DC Department of Small and Local Business Development Director Harold Pettigrew. "Our federal partners share that commitment to working with small and local businesses, so this national pilot is a win-win for our partners and our businesses."
The goal of the HUBDC initiative is to increase the number of local HUBZone-certified businesses and increase the dollar volume of federal contract awards to HUBZone businesses. The partnership between DSLBD, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the SBA, the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Treasury Department, and the DC Chamber of Commerce grew from each organization's shared interest in supporting local small businesses. A series of conversations between the partners about how to maximize small business' participation in the HUBZone program resulted in the launch of the HUBDC initiative in February.
To learn more about the HUBDC initiative and how your business might participate, please visit http://sba.gov/HUBDC. To confirm whether your business is located in one of the SBA's HUBZones, please visit http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/maps/.
About the District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development
The District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) fosters the economic growth, development, and retention of District of Columbia-based businesses, and promotes economic development throughout the District's commercial corridors. For more information on all of DSLBD's services, go to http://dslbd.dc.gov or contact us at [email protected].
The US Small Business Administration's participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor's, donor's, grantee's, contractor's or other participant's opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and co-sponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory bases. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting [email protected]. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2012.
Media Contacts:
- Brendon Miller (DSLBD), (202) 741-0860