Workshops on government contracts aimed at women and minority business owners

Luncheon attendees are encouraged to network with the speakers (Photo courtesy of Twentyfour Students via Flickr)
Women and minority business owners can attend an upcoming workshop to learn more about getting certified and increasing their chances of winning government contracts. (Photo courtesy of Twentyfour Students via Flickr)

Women and minority business owners can learn how certifications can help win government contracts at upcoming workshops throughout the state.

The Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBEs) will bring the “Get Certified” campaign to more than 35 stops throughout the state, including several in King County on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23. Educational workshops will cover the benefits of a variety of certifications, not just OMWBEs.

“While OMWBE’s certification is important, it is vital to recognize that there are a multitude of certifications that will allow small businesses to enter the lucrative world of government contracting,” said OMWBE director Alexis Oliver in a prepared statement.

The campaign will launch on Jan. 20 and run through Jan. 23.

“As our economy continues to recover, we have a renewed opportunity to invest in women-owned and minority-owned firms that are helping create jobs and strengthen families in underserved communities,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement.

“Certified businesses can more easily connect to government contract and procurement opportunities that can significantly grow their business,” Oliver said in a prepared statement.

For more information on the “Get Certified” campaign business owners can visit www.getcertifiednw.com.

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015

Wenatchee – 11 a.m.  at the Department of Transportation Area 1, Conference Room on 2830 Euclid Avenue; Wenatchee, Wash. 98801

Chelan – 3 p.m. at Chelan Fire Hall on 232 East Wapato Avenue, Chelan; Wash. 98816

Ocean Shores – 10:30 a.m. at the Subway Meeting Room, 698 Ocean Shores Boulevard Northwest; Ocean Shores, Wash. 98569

Longview –  3:30 p.m. at the Longview Library Auditorium on 1600 Louisiana Street; Longview, Wash. 98632

Vancouver – 6:30 p.m. at the PTAC/Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce on 1101 Broadway, Suite 100; Vancouver, Wash. 98685

Lacey – 9 a.m. at the PTAC/Thurston Economic Development Council on 665 Woodland Square Loop Southeast #201; Lacey, Wash. 98513

Gig Harbor – 1 p.m. at the Subway Meeting Room on 11430 Fifty First Avenue, Suite 100; Gig Harbor, Wash. 98335

Bremerton – 4:30 p.m. at the PTAC/Kitsap Economic Development Alliance on 4312 Kitsap Way, Suite 103; Bremerton, Wash. 98310

Burlington – 2:30 p.m. at Library Hillside Room on 820 East Washington Avenue; Burlington, Wash. 98233

Bellingham – 11 a.m.  at City Hall on 210 Lotti Street; Bellingham, Wash. 98225

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015

Republic –  10 a.m.  at the Ferry County PUD on 686 South Clark Avenue; Republic, Wash. 99166

Kettle Falls – 2 p.m. at Sandy’s Drive Inn on 1045 U.S.-395, Kettle Falls, Wash. 99141

Colville – 5 p.m. at the Department of Transportation Upstairs Meeting Room on 440 North Highway, North Roundabout; Colville, Wash. 99114

Union Gap – 12 p.m. at the Department of Transportation Regent Office Board Room on 2809 Rudkin Road; Union Gap, Wash. 98903

Kennewick – 3:30 p.m. at the PTAC/Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce on 7130 West Grandridge Boulevard, Suite C; Kennewick, Wash. 99336

Port Angeles – 10 a.m. at the Port Angeles City Council Chambers on 321 East Fifth Street; Port Angeles, Wash. 98362

Aberdeen – 4 p.m. at the Aberdeen Library Meeting Room on 121 East Market Street, Aberdeen, Wash. 98520

Everett – 9:30 a.m.  at the PTAC/Economic AllianceSnohomish County on 808 134th Street Southwest, Suite 101; Everett, Wash. 98204

Monroe – 12:30 p.m. at the Monroe Library on 1070 Village Way; Monroe, Wash. 98272

Lake Forest Park – 4 p.m. at the Lake Forest Library Park Town Center on 17171 Bothell Way Northeast; Lake Forest Park, Wash. 98155

Walla Walla – 6:30 p.m. at the WSDOT Area 4 South Central Region Maintenance on 1210 “G” Street, Walla Walla, Wash. 99362

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015

Electric City – 11 a.m. at the Department of Transportation’s Electric City Maintenance Facility on SR 155 MP 23.8, Electric City, Wash. 99123

Omak – 2 p.m. at the Omak Library Meeting Room, 30 South Ash Street; Omak, Wash. 98841

Pullman – 11:30 a.m. at the Neill Library Hecht Room on 210, North Grand Avenue; Pullman, Wash. 99163

Spokane Valley – 3 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lower Level on 1421 North Meadowood Lane; Spokane Valley, Wash. 99019

Spokane – 5:30 p.m. downtown at PTAC/Greater Spokane Inc. on 801 West Riverside Avenue, Suite 100; Spokane Downtown, Wash. 99201

Tukwila – 10 a.m. at the Foster Library on 4060 South 144th Street; Tukwila, Wash. 98168

Kent – 1:30 p.m. at PTAC/Green River Community College on 417 Ramsay Way, Suite 112; Kent, Wash. 98032

Auburn – 4:30 p.m. at the Auburn Library Conference Room on 1102 Auburn Way South; Auburn, Wash. 98002

Kirkland – 10 a.m. at the Kirkland Library on 308 Kirkland Avenue; Kirkland, Wash. 98004

Issaquah – 1 p.m. Issaquah Library – Meeting Room, 10 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027

Bellevue – 4 p.m.  at the Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Avenue Northeast; Bellevue, WA 98004

Friday, Jan. 23, 2015

Tacoma – 2 p.m.  at the PTAC/Bates Technical College on 1101 South Yakima Avenue, Room M123B; Tacoma, Wash. 98406

Moses Lake – 10 a.m. at the Moses Lake Library Downstairs Meeting Room on 418 East Fifth Avenue; Moses Lake, Wash. 98837

Ellensburg – 2 p.m. at Bar-14 Ranch House’s Back Meeting Room on 1800 Canyon Road; Ellensburg, Wash. 98926

Federal Way – 10 a.m. City Hall, Council Chambers on 33325 Eighth Avenue South; Federal Way, Wash. 98003

Puyallup – 2 p.m. at Puyallup Library’s North Meeting Room on 324, South Meridian; Puyallup, Wash. 98371

Seattle, Beacon Hill – 10 a.m. at the Beacon Hill Library on 2821 Beacon Avenue South; Seattle, Wash. 98144

Tacoma (Reception) – 7 p.m. at the Emerald Queen Casino I-5 Bridge Nightclub on 2024 East Twenty-ninth Street; Tacoma, Wash. 98404

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