Dyess program builds relationships with local businesses

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexander Guerrero
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 7th Contracting Squadron hosted its second annual Air Force Small Business Outreach Program event Aug. 20, 2014, at the Dyess Event Center here.

The Small Business Outreach Program is designed to educate local businesses on potential opportunities for them to participate in acquisitions at Dyess.

The Air Force seeks to give equal opportunity to small and local businesses to apply for government contracts, and has set aside $24.5 million specifically for small business contracts at Dyess. To allow them to more effectively compete, the Air Force began the SBOP to guide small businesses through the process.

"It's my job to reach an Air Force-set goal, which is established every year for the amount of dollars spent with small businesses," said Ronald Miller, 7th Contracting Squadron director of business operations. "In order to do that, I hold annual meetings with small businesses who are interested in working with the federal government."

The SBOP actively seeks to award contracts to women, veteran and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and others.

"We are looking for all businesses, especially those that can provide services, parts or construction," Miller said.

Looking back to last year's turn out, Miller was pleased to see more business representatives present this year, which could mean a more successful year of partnership between Big Country small businesses and Dyess.

"We are aggressively working with community leaders to seek out new upstart businesses in the Abilene communities," Miller said.

The outreach program helps these smaller businesses by teaching them the necessary steps to take to be a viable contender for a government contract.

"We've been working in conjunction with the Texas Tech Small Business Development Center here in Abilene to help businesses that aren't familiar with working with the government," Miller said.

The program is mutually beneficial to both Dyess and the Abilene metro area regarding the circulation of revenue between them.

"This program is important because we want to help support the local economy," Miller said. "Generally work here is subcontracted. We want those contracts to go to local small businesses instead. That way the majority of the money goes back into the local community."

The intent of the program is to have the money put into local businesses be put back into the pockets and projects of the people and community of Abilene. That should be seen within the local community shortly after businesses have been awarded contracts with Dyess.

"I take a lot of pleasure in managing this program," Miller said. "It's important for Dyess to give back to the community, since they've given so much to us."

For more information, log on to www.airforcesmallbiz.org.