Ribbon Cutting and Opening of Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

Ribbon Cutting and Opening of Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

Mark your calendar! This announcement is to invite you to attend the opening of the Colorado PTAC.

When: 9:30 to 10:30 am, November 9, 2009 (Monday)

Where: Pikes Peak Center, 190 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Main Lobby www.pikespeakcenter.com Telephone (719) 520-7453

Who will be there: Don Marostica (Director, State Office of Economic Development and International Trade), representatives from our Congressional Offices, the PTAC Director Tom Elam and the PTAC staff, and numerous other stakeholders in this important new statewide enterprise.

Why be there: This is an opportunity to get a first look at the new Colorado PTAC and meet the PTAC staff and many other stakeholders.

The mission of a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is to help businesses throughout the state to land government contracts and increase economic opportunities.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the State Economic Development Commission, and local contributions from throughout the State. This will assist Colorados small and middle market businesses to obtain contracts with federal, state, county and local governments. It will be based out of Colorado Springs with satellite workers providing additional coverage throughout the state.

Colorado's small businesses form the backbone of our economy, Gov. Ritter has said. Bringing a PTAC to Colorado is critical for our small business community, especially since Colorado has such a significant federal government and military presence. This center will allow for all of Colorado's small businesses to get fair and equal access to do business with the government, at a time when there is much work to do to get our economy moving again.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Program was authorized by Congress in 1985 in an effort to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in the Government Marketplace. There are now 93 PTACs in states around the country. Nationwide, businesses working through a PTAC were awarded contracts totaling $14 billion during the most recent procurement cycle, creating or retaining 334,000 jobs nationwide.

We hope you will find it worthwhile to participate in this inaugural event.