DOAS National Small Business Week Observance

Annual observance underscores the agency’s commitment to 
expand small business opportunities in the State of Georgia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               Contact: Deborah Rollins
                                                                                              Phone: 404-657-0373
                                                                                              Email: Deborah.rollins@doas.ga.gov

[ATLANTA, GA, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021] – During National Small Business Week, September 12-18, 2021, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) celebrates small businesses and entrepreneurs across the state for their perseverance and ability to overcome adversity during challenging times.  In observance of the week, DOAS reaffirms its commitment to support the vision of Governor Brian P. Kemp to make Georgia the #1 state for small business.

“Governor Kemp recognizes that small businesses provide thousands of jobs and are important to the growth and success of Georgia’s economy,” says Alex Atwood, Commissioner of DOAS.  “We will continue our support of the small business community by working to increase their participation in the state procurement process and, through our Small Business Initiative, expand the number of entrepreneurs doing business with the State of Georgia.”

Georgia’s small business definition was recently updated. A small business means a business which is independently owned and operated and has either 300 or less employees, or $30 million or less in gross receipts annually.  

“Our small business and supplier community are critical to ensuring the State of Georgia has the goods, services, and technology needed to serve our citizens,” says Lisa Eason, Deputy Commissioner of DOAS State Purchasing Division. “DOAS is a great source for valuable information on upcoming state and local government bid opportunities, essential supplier training, and outreach events.”

During fiscal year 2020, DOAS supplier and small business outreach increased by 97 percent with 4,552 participants.  For fiscal year 2021, the DOAS State Purchasing Division (SPD) proudly served more than 5,600 suppliers and small businesses through virtual training and educational events, learning opportunities, and media appearances on Atlanta Small Business Network (ASBN-TV) and Fuel Podcast with Radio X.

DOAS continues to host several professional development and networking sessions throughout the year. The Small Business Procurement Readiness Workshop series are a collaboration with the University of Georgia (UGA) Small Business Development Center Minority Business Division (MBD).  The workshops combine the procurement process with essential small business development training on how to increase core capability and capacity.  In-person and virtual Small Business Symposiums give businesses owners and entrepreneurs unique access to state procurement staff, small business partners, and statewide contract holders with subcontracting opportunities. The Procurement Connect Informational Sessions are DOAS facilitated panel discussions with subject matter experts on topics that are timely and relevant to the supplier community.

This month, DOAS is collaborating with the UGA Small Business Development Center to offer its Prime Development Program (PDP), which is a once-a-year high powered training series designed to arm business executives of

emerging companies with dynamic skills to increase opportunities for success. In October the two agencies will host the annual Multicultural Business Summit networking and training event with procurement related topics. The next virtual Small Business Symposium and the Procurement Connect Informational Session will take place in November. The informational session will focus on contract fraud with subject matter experts from the Inspector General’s Office leading the discussion.

DOAS has also leveled the playing field to make it easier for small businesses to compete for state business.  “We leveraged technology by enhancing the Georgia Procurement Registry to simplify access to bids and processes and increase use of the price-matching option to create opportunities for small businesses in statewide contracts,” said Atwood.

Through the use of multiple award strategies combined with ongoing outreach to the small business community, SPD has issued more than 81 new statewide contract awards to small businesses over the last two years.

For more information about the DOAS Small Business Initiative, visit doas.ga.gov.



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