In-person, virtual attendance offered
For the Tomahawk Leader
ANTIGO – With Lincoln and Langlade Counties recently designated as new Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), an informational session for small businesses in those counties will be held.
The “Expanding Business Opportunities in Rural Wisconsin” training session will be held in-person at the Northcentral Technical College (NTC) Antigo Campus, 312 Forrest Ave., Antigo, on Thursday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
To register for the event and/or to attend virtually, visit www.lincolncountyedc.org/hubzone.
The session is offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Wisconsin Procurement Institute, the Wisconsin Office of Rural Prosperity and local economic development officials.
Attendees will learn about the benefits of and applying for a HUBZone certification, HUBZone certification requirements, the certification process, locating HUBZone opportunities and marketing a HUBZone-certified business.
A Monday, March 10 release from SBA said small businesses in HUBZones that obtain a HUBZone certification “gain important benefits in competing for federal contracts.”
“There are now more opportunities for small businesses in the federal marketplace, thanks to recent legislation making funds available for infrastructure and a wide variety of other projects,” the release stated. “Small businesses in Wisconsin garnered over $1 billion in federal contracts in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2022, the most recent year available.”
The federal government is the largest buyer of goods and services in the world, and it has a goal of purchasing at least 23% of those from small businesses, according to the release.
“Federal contracting can provide a stable new revenue stream for small businesses,” the release said. “With the advantages that the HUBZone certification can provide Langlade and Lincoln County firms, they will be better positioned to compete for federal contracts at a time when opportunities are increasing.”
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration said it “helps power the American dream of business ownership.”
“As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster,” SBA stated. “It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.”
To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.