Lakeland helps recognize 33 years of small-business help through PTACs

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers across the U.S. have been helping small businesses compete with larger firms to secure federal, state and local government contracts for more than three decades.

A recent news release from Lakeland Community College, which manages its own PTAC, announced that plans for a national PTAC observance are in the works and the school will take art with a special event from 8 to 10 a.m, Sept. 26, at Lakeland’s Holden University Center.

“For 33 years, (PTACs) have helped expand the number of small businesses that successfully compete for and win... government contracts. This September, PTACs from around the country are coming together to launch National PTAC Day,” the release states. “The day is intended to celebrate the success of the tens of thousands of small businesses who have benefited from training and technical assistance delivered by their local PTACs.”

To help recognize the inaugural National PTAC Day, Lakeland Community College’s Northeast Ohio PTAC will host a special event at the Holden University Center Sept. 26 from 8-10 a.m., according to the release.

There, “businesses will have the opportunity to learn some basics about diversifying their market footprint through local, state and federal contracting with the help of PTAC services, as well as meet some local small businesses who have been successful in their contracting efforts,” the news release states.

Additionally, event participants will have the chance to:

• Find qualified employees using Lakeland’s Career Services Department

• Tie into degree and certificate programs through Lakeland’s Recruitment Center

• Finance business expansion through the Lakeland Small Business Capital Corporation of Ohio’s 504 Loan Program

• Get additional services to help their businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Cleveland office.

“Lakeland’s Northeast Ohio PTAC program had a very successful fiscal year 2017. Between Feb. 1, 2017 and Jan. 31, 2018, PTAC met with 365 businesses in northeast Ohio,” the release states. “Their clients reported 1,116 federal government contract awards totaling over $67,333,432. Lakeland’s PTAC office serves the business community in Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Erie and Huron counties.”

For more information about Lakeland’s PTAC office, visit lakelandcc.edu/ ptac.

Registration for the Sept. 26 event is free when businesses register online at http://www.lakelandcc. edu/ptac.

NEWS-HERALD FILE A view of Lakeland Community College’s main campus in Kirtland shortly after the addition of its new Health Technologies Building appears in this Feb. 13 photo.