Washington Department of Veterans Affairs - Veteran Owned Business Newsletter

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January 2025 Edition

Update Your Profile in Washington State Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) As a good start to the new year, it is important to make sure your information is current! Don't miss out on contracting opportunities with outdated information listed! Take a few moments to ensure your profile is updated in WEBS. Business profiles must be updated each calendar year.

We are excited to invite you to the next session of the Veteran Financial Empowerment Initiative, designed specifically to empower veteran-owned businesses like yours with the tools, education, and resources needed to thrive. Note: You are welcome to attend this session and any other session even if you haven't attended one in the past 📅 Save the Date: Session 2: “Accessing Capital and Funding Strategies” Date: February 20, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM (PST) 📍 Location: Virtual (attend from the comfort of your home!) This session, presented by the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), will provide practical insights and actionable strategies to help you secure funding and grow your business. Whether you're navigating the challenges of accessing capital or seeking expert guidance, this workshop is for you. Why You Should Attend: Gain essential knowledge on funding opportunities tailored for veteran-owned businesses. Learn how to build and leverage capital for sustainable growth. Don’t wait—secure your spot today! For questions or additional information, reach out to Jonte` Robinson at jonte@jmichell.com.

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is offering an exclusive 50% discount to attend Alliance Northwest, the premier business-to-government event in the Pacific Northwest! 

The 39th Annual Alliance Northwest is the Pacific Northwest’s largest business-to-government conference, offering unmatched opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Hosted by the Thurston Economic Development Council, home of APEX Accelerators, this event brings together government agencies, prime contractors, and businesses for a full day of networking and collaboration.

Event Date: March 19 & 20, 2025

Location: Greater Tacoma Convention Center 

This is your chance to connect with government agencies, prime contractors, and fellow businesses to grow and scale your operations. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Learn more and register today for 50% off

Don’t miss this premier opportunity to grow your network, engage with decision-makers, and elevate your business.

• PortGen First Look: Six Professional Design IDIQ Contracts
  • 1/29/2025 3:00PM - 4:30PM
  • Attend this webinar to hear directly from Port project managers about upcoming projects in your field and network with potential collaborators!

• FEMA Region 10 Webinar: How To Do Business with FEMA
  • 1/30/2025 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • The webinar will include a review of key steps for doing business with FEMA, key
  • considerations for small business, and Region 10 specific contracting and coordination information.

• Understanding Capabilities Statements - Federal &WA State (IN PERSON)
  • 2/5/2025 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Skookum Construction
  • 4525 Auto Center Way, Bremerton, WA, 98312
  • This class is for firms with a desire to learn about the differences between federal and state capability statements. Knowing how to speak the correct language when writing a capability statement is half the battle. Be prepared to learn the importance of having the right elements to describe what your business does and the importance knowing what each agency wants to see in a capability statement.
• What is Market Research? (IN PERSON)
  • 2/12/2025 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
  • 808 134th St SW, Everett, WA, 98204
  • Market Research for Washington State and Local Government Contracting:
  • Understanding how and where government agencies buy products and services is crucial for any business seeking government contracts. Participants will discover valuable resources and tools to do market research, learn how to identify target
  • agencies, and evaluate the competition.
• Understanding Capabilities Statements - Federal & WA State - ONLINE MEETING (LIVE)
  • 2/12/2025 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
  • This class is for firms with a desire to learn about the differences between federal and state capability statements. Knowing how to speak the correct language when writing a capability statement is half the battle. Be prepared to learn the importance of having the right elements to describe what your business does and the importance of knowing what each agency wants to see in a capability statement.
• Using WEBS: WA State's Vendor Portal (IN PERSON)
  • 2/19/2025 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
  • 808 134th St SW, Everett, WA, 98204
  • Learn to explore Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) - a WA state
  • vendor portal - to find valuable information about government spending including
  • reports, opportunities and vendor searches.

• Local Procurement Symposium
  • 2/20/2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey, WA, 98503
  • Springtime is here, and procurement is in the air! Thurston Economic Development Council and Thurston County Chamber of Commerce are proud to invite you to the Local Procurement Symposium. Come to hear about contracting opportunities with local government agencies. Be ready to network with government contractors and purchasing teams. Learn how to do business with the government, explore upcoming opportunities, and enjoy a morning of networking.
• Alliance Northwest 2025
  • 3/19/2025 8:00 AM - 4:00PM
  • Greater Tacoma Convention Center
  • 1500 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA, 98402
  • Alliance Northwest is the largest business-to-government conference in the Pacific Northwest. This event features high-quality workshops and one-to-one meetings between small businesses, government agencies, and prime contractors. The event is in its 39th year. Hosted by Thurston Economic Development Council, home of APEX Accelerator, Alliance Northwest has a strong history of federal agency support. It is widely known as the place where business and government learn and make connections with small and disadvantaged businesses.
• Save the Date - First Central Regional Contracting Forum
  • 4/4/2025 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • 10 N 8th St, Yakima, WA, 98901
• Bridging Partnerships
  • 4/9/2025 4: 30 PM - 6: 30 PM
  • Three Rivers Convention Center
  • 7016 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA, 99336
  • At the 18th Annual Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium, attendees can anticipate an enriching experience where professionals from both small and large businesses will converge, fostering connections, gaining valuable insights, and cultivating relationships.

Your dedicated Veteran and Servicemember Owned Business Manager Shamekia brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role, where she works tirelessly to support and empower veteran and servicemember entrepreneurs. Whether you’re navigating resources, seeking guidance, or looking for networking opportunities, Shamekia is here to ensure you have the tools and connections you need to succeed. Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to reach out to Shamekia directly with any questions or for assistance with your business journey. Contact Shamekia at shamekiam@dva.wa.gov or call 360-791-1788.