Throughout our publications, we regularly reference the importance of getting involved with organizations that support your mission and purpose, along with utilizing those relationships to market and grow your business. It’s why we travel the country and participate with many diverse and inclusive groups that create an intersection of valuable information and access to opportunities. These build on the foundation we’ve built within the federal marketplace.
Recently, Team Parabilis joined the HUBZone Contractors National Council for their annual conference in Leesburg, VA. While participating in panel discussions and break out sessions, we met business leaders from all over the country. They recognized the benefit of being in the room and meeting those who can help you take your business to the next level. Leaders traveled to the DMV from California, Florida, Texas, New York, and even as far as Puerto Rico knowing that the exhibit hall and discussion rooms would be filled with like-minded people working together to achieve a common goal: supporting the mission and growing their businesses.
What is a HUBZone?
For those who aren’t familiar, the HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) program was established in 1997 to bring assistance to small businesses operating in low-income areas of our country. The intent is to promote job opportunities and stimulate economic development and capital investment in otherwise under-served communities nationwide. The Small Business Administration has been tasked with offering 3% of allocated small business set asides to SBA-certified HUBZone contractors. Organizations like the HUBZone Contractors National Council were created to provide an advocacy arm to advance the presence of HUBZone contractors within federal contract award disbursement. Under the leadership of Michelle Burnett, the HUBZone Contractors National Council has pushed hard to create more avenues of opportunity for their membership, thus stimulating the economies of these historically underserved communities.
HUBZones in GovCon
Barriers to entry in GovCon are growing for small businesses vying to not only participate but thrive in this lucrative and evergreen environment. Certifications like HUBZone offer a predetermined minimum that has to be parceled out for these businesses, creating a pathway of sustainable success for those participants in the program. Year after year, we see the growth in this annual event, seemingly signaling the rise of participation among the constituency. The buzz around the conference is due to the intimacy with and the close proximity between making meaningful connections and accessing achievable contract awards. Government and industry alike find this a powerful ecosystem of providers for any type of goods and services that will ultimately support the success of those who may otherwise have not been given a voice or a clear path to success.
It is our pleasure to partner with many businesses who participate in this program and the many other SBA certification outlets that give small businesses the ability to grow their success without fear of being squeezed out by bigger and more financially able corporations.
We also want to give a “job well done” to Michelle Burnett and her team who continue year after year to grow the awareness of this certification and further assist in the positive economic growth in the designated HUBZone districts! We proudly stand with you and will continue to support you in all you do and are proud to participate again in the future!