Free Classes for Arkansas Minority Businesses Who Want to Do Business with the State

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Minority businesses in Arkansas who're interested in doing business with the state are invited to participate in free classes this month.

The Small and Minority Business Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) is partnering with the Office of State Procurement to offer training classes that teach the process and details of doing business with Arkansas's state agencies and universities. 

There are three upcoming chances to attend the course, each Wednesday in March (March 13, 20 and 27) from 8:00 a.m. to noon in Little Rock.

Each class will be held at the same location, 1st floor Conference Room, DFA Building, 1509 W. Seventh Street.

Topics to be covered in the training course include:

• Products and services the State of Arkansas regularly purchases
• The State of Arkansas Bidding Process
• How and where to find bid opportunities
• How to submit a bid 
• How to certify your business

"State agencies and universities are always looking for new opportunities to partner with minority businesses," said Pat Nunn Brown, director of AEDC's Small and Minority Business Division. "Through this training course, minority business owners will gain an understanding of the specific steps needed to do business with the State of Arkansas."

There is no cost to attend the class but registration is required.

Participants will receive a vendor manual and a list of state agency contacts.

To register, call the Office of State Procurement at (501) 324-9322 or AEDC's Small and Minority Business Division at (501) 682-6105.