HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2012 City of South Bend to Host Minority & Women-Owned Business Outreach Program SOU TA 8F
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15,2012
Contact: Debra Johnson, Director of Communications
Phone: 574-235-5853
CITY OF SOUTH BEND TO HOST MINORITY& WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
OUTREACH PROGRAM
"Breaking Down Barriers Event"to be Held at Century Center
SOUTH BEND Mayor Pete Buttigieg, along with the Common Council, the Diversity
Utilization Board, and Trinal, hie., will host the inaugural Minority and Women-Owned
Business (MBE/WBE) Outreach Program on Thursday, October 18. The program will
take place at the Century Center at 120 South Saint Joseph Street, South Bend, IN 46601,
from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
"This is an opportunity for the City to widen the net for potential bids and contracts with
minority and women-owned businesses," said Mayor Buttigieg. "My administration
continues to seek out opportunities to increase and improve diversity within the City."
The program seeks to identify and include more minority and women-owned businesses
in contracting and procurement opportunities with the City, in addition to bringing
awareness of projects and procurement of goods and services typically purchased by the
City. The event is open to all minority and women-owned businesses in St. Joseph
County which includes start-up and entrepreneurs. Representatives from various city
departments will be available for business owners to speak to and receive information
about departmental projects and programs. These departments include:
• Building Department
• Legal Department
• Department of Public Works
• Police Department
• Fire Department
• Department of Code Enforcement
• Streets Department
• Parks &Recreation Department
• Water Works
1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261 • FAx 574/235-9892
SpU TH 8F
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1865
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF TIC MAYOR
• Mayor's Office
• Common Council
• Community&Economic Development Department
• Administration and Finance
"The program is exactly what the City needs to improve business with minority and
women-owned businesses," said Tony Fitts,President of the Diversity Utilization Board.
"We look forward to a big turnout and reaching business owners who were unaware of
what the City has to offer."
The following business certifying agencies will be in attendance to inform attendees of
the certification process: State of Indiana, Indiana Minority Supplier Development
Council (IMSDC) and Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). If
attendees are certified by the agencies noted above, then they are encouraged to bring a
copy of their current certification letter to the program. SCORE, 1st Source Bank and
Key Bank have also confirmed their attendance and will be available to speak with
attendees about opportunities and resources from their respective agencies.
City departments will provide a list of projects and procurement goods and services
generally purchased by the City of South Bend. Each attendee will receive a copy of the
City of South Bend's Purchasing Opportunities of budgets ranging from $5000—over
$75,000.
The Century Center will offer both free continental breakfast and parking to all attendees.
To register for the program please visit
htip://southbendin.gov/govemment/content/diversity-inclusion-progr or contact
Kareemah Fowler at 574-245-6052 and kfowler(a,southbendin.gov or Trinal, Inc. at
tdavis@trinaline.com.
1400 COUNTY-CrIY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261 • FAx 574/235-9892