Pilot Initiative

Regional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Small Business Conferences

USDA is conducting a series of small business conferences to facilitate rural economic growth and increase small business contracting in rural America.

At USDA, we believe rural America can play a greater role in providing the products and services we procure and are excited about the USDA Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America initiative and its potential for rural America.

PROJECT LEAD: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 202-720-7117, www.da.usda.gov/osdbu.

BACKGROUND: Annually, USDA purchases more than $5 billion dollars in goods and services essential to meeting the needs of our customers and the various missions of the agency.Approximately 60 percent of these dollars are spent on food commodities.

PRIMARY AUDIENCES: The primary audiences for the small business conferences are small farm cooperatives and rural businesses, both existing and those considering a cooperative or business structure, and producers as well as others who may have a current or future need for the information provided.

EXPECTED OUTCOME: Small farmer-owned cooperatives, small rural businesses, and producers will:

gain a working knowledge necessary for developing the capabilities and certifications to participate in Federal food commodity procurements;

learn about USDA technical assistance resources for business development;

establish relationships with key USDA personnel who are responsible for the development of procurement policy and standards; and

increase demand for their products and services within local food systems, USDA, and other Federal agencies.

 

LOCATIONS: The small business conferences will be held in six locations covering states in the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, North Central, and South Central United States.

For exact location and details, click on the Location name below.

Location	Dates
Southeast: Albany, Georgia -	November 9 Conference Agenda
South Central: Pine Bluff, Arkansas	December 9
North Central: TBD	TBD
Northeast: TBD	TBD
Northwest: TBD	TBD
Southwest: TBD	TBD

REGISTRATION: Registration is free. Attendees are asked to pre-register for the conference. Space is limited, so please email or fax your name, company name, full address, telephone number(s), and email address 1 week prior to the conference date.

EMAIL: Justin.Wilkes@da.usda.gov -OR- FAX: 202-720-3001

You may also contact Justin Wilkes at 202-720-7380.

PARTICIPATING USDA AGENCIES: OSDBU is partnering with several USDA agencies for the pilot initiative. These agencies each play a role in bringing additional business development, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities to rural America.

• The Agricultural Marketing Service: www.ams.usda.gov
• The Farm Service Agency: www.fsa.usda.gov
• Rural Development: www.rurdev.usda.gov
• The Food Nutrition Service: www.fns.usda.gov
• The National Institute for Food and Agriculture (formerly the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service): www.csrees.usda.gov

This initiative complements:

Secretary Tom Vilsack's Rural Tour "Renewing America's Promise," a program designed to engage in a more robust dialog with folks living in rural America and to help share innovative ideas as we build a foundation for success and prosperity for the new 21st century economy.

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan's "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, a program to continue the national conversation about developing local and regional food systems and finding ways to support small and mid-sized farms.