Charles County government hosted a seminar to help local businesses form relationships and do business with the county. As reported on Southern Maryland Newspapers Online:

Approximately 60 people attended a seminar Thursday morning at the county government building in La Plata to assist businesses, especially small and minority-owned businesses, with forming relationships with the county.

Shanna Reese, assistant chief of purchasing for the Charles County Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services Purchasing Division, said the county does two types of buying: small or informal procurement under $25,000, and large or formal procurement over $25,000 that is “a lot more in depth.”

“Typically, we’d like to start with our local businesses who may be able to provide those services,” Reese said of informal procurement bids, such as $10,000 for janitorial services.

The county’s bid board is available online, and local businesses are invited to submit a solicitation document, which Reese said is a “very important document” because it becomes the county’s contract with a business if the county accepts that business’s bid.

Attendees heard presentations on a number of topics including registering with the eMaryland Marketplace, navigating the county’s website, the county’s Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) program, and the Disadvantaged Business Loan Fund. They also heard from local businesses that have successfully partnered with the county and utilized county offered programs.

For more information read the full article on Southern Maryland Newspapers Online.