SBA Hubzone helps small businesses grow

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Jeff Henne owns waller hall research...A small business market research company in big horn county.

When he found out about the small business opportunity program through the small business association or SBA he took action.

”I’ve often wondered why bighorn county was not a hubzone county so we reached out to those offices and we worked together and we made it happen,” said Henne.

9 months later the SBA helped designated the county a new Hubzone.

The federal historically underutilized business zone or HUBZone program helps up opportunities in economically distressed areas in rural and urban communities that suffer from a lack of investment...

Am;-”Making sure that there’s equitable access to all of our programs whether that’s starting a business expanding a business and doing government contracting. Like we have an event here today with our partners with the apex accelerator. The equity plan makes sure that we are doing the outreach we are providing the programs and we are reaching everybody that should have access to our program,” said Aikta Marcoulier, Regional Admin. SBA.

The SBA held an event at the Laramie County Public Library Tuesday to give small businesses around the state a chance to grow by gaining access to federal business opportunities.

” This is an exciting day because the hub bighorn county where our business is located is going to be designated a Hubzsone which is huge for small businesses like us,” said Henne.

Josh Dorrell, CEO of Wyoming Business Council, and Laura Maas, Deputy Director of SBA’s office of the HUBZone program from Washington D.C. for Wyoming... Were some of the many speakers and leaders there.

” In F.Y. 21 the federal government awarded over 14 billion to HUBZone-certified firms, so this represents a huge opportunity for the certification for small businesses,” said Maas.

This one-on-one interaction shows folks how to navigate federal contracts... Aiding professionals get certified...Creating more jobs in Wyoming.

”That’s sort of a misconception out there that you have to be a really large business to do business with the federal government. The federal government is the biggest purchaser of goods, services and construction in the world. So everything from office supplies, services, construction. If you do anything that provides a services like that there may be an opportunity for you,” said Amy Lea, District Director SBA Wyoming.