(Washington, DC)  --  U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-14, Concord) today announced that he will host a town hall meeting on May 25 at Lakeland Community College to help local small business owners and manufacturers learn how to do business with the federal government and secure government contracts.

 LaTourette said the town hall meeting will feature representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), NASA, General Services Administration (GSA), Vienna Air Force Base, U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Procurement officers from the various organizations will attend.  In addition, there will be contractors from the Cleveland area available to meet with local business owners and answer questions.

 “About 90 percent of the more than 8 million government contracts awarded annually are between $2,500 and $100,000 in value,” LaTourette said.  “Folks often hear only about huge government contracts to build weapons systems, tanks or helicopters, but there are an untold number of opportunities for small businesses and manufacturers to do business with the federal government.”

 LaTourette cited the success of ChemMasters Specialty Construction Company of Madison, OH, which last year secured a contract from the Department of Defense to coat the exterior concrete walls of the Pentagon with a pigmented sealer.

 “This small firm had been doing lots of great work in Ohio, but this was a major coup to land a contract for the Pentagon restoration,” LaTourette said.  “This will get this company’s name to the top of the list for other concrete restoration projects within the federal government.”

 LaTourette said government contracts are available for a huge range of products and services.

 “The key is to get your foot in the door, and in this event we’re going to show local small businesses owners and manufacturers how to do just that,” LaTourette said, adding that contracts between $2,500 and $100,000 are often reserved for small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, small women-owned businesses and small veteran-owned businesses.

 LaTourette said attendees will also learn about www.FedBizOpps.gov – the federal government web site where those seeking a federal market for their product or service can search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.

 The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, in the Performing Arts Center at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, Ohio.   Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

 The event is free and open to the public but attendees must register in advance.  Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Judy Page of Congressman LaTourette’s office at 800-447-0529.