By B.A. Little, Account Executive

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — The Tennessee Valley welcomed Marshall Space Flight Center Associate Director Steve Miley to the Goose Pond Civic Center on August 21 to speak about making the connections that lead to contracts with the Federal Government. His insight and information, along with David Brock, Small Business Specialist at Marshall Space Flight Center and Lynn Garrison, MSFC Small Business Technical Adviser provided strategic guidance and planning for small businesses to navigate the government contract process . Alexander Flachbart, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Alabama also spoke on the creating unique financing solutions and providing access to capital in Alabama communities.

Representatives from Boeing, SAIC, Jacobs, URS Federal Services, Teledyne Brown and others gave business leaders a behind-the-scenes look at doing business with Prime Contractors and specific ways to launch their business as a NASA supplier, subcontractor, and/or service provider. The one on one networking sessions, offered a unique, up close opportunity to talk to these companies about specific issues in the process.

Local businessman Jeff Avans of Avans Machining can attest to what it takes to land a contract with NASA. He, and his family, started as a small shop at Hytop in 1989 and has grown into a 23,000 square foot facility producing high tech equipment, including rocket parts for NASA. Helanded a contract partnership with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne almost a decade ago, after attending several events just like this one. He reiterated that this is not an overnight or easy process but with persistence and determination, small businesses can win government contracts.

This day day long event provided the opportunity for businesses to talk with some of NASA’s top contractors and learn how they can build trusted relationships that lead to contracts and to get connected with contractors in NASA’s Mentor Protégé Program.

This event was presented by Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Economic Development Authority in Partnership with the NASA Office of Small Business Programs. For more information contact Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce in Scottsboro.