ECU to host Disaster Recovery Contracting Summit
Contractors in eastern North Carolina will have the opportunity to prepare for the next big storm at the 2019 Disaster Recovery Contracting Summit presented by the Small Business and Technology Development Center at East Carolina University on Wednesday.
The new initiative is designed to help small businesses seeking local, state and federal government contracting opportunities in the event of a natural disaster.
With the 2019 hurricane season just warming up, businesses will have a chance to spend the day with contractor officers and subject matter experts, gathering valuable information about how to work in conjunction with different agencies to help during the storm recovery process.
The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Willis Building at 300 East First St. in Greenville. Businesses can register to attend online at http://www.sbtdc.org/disaster-recovery-cs/. There is a $100 registration fee.
“Unfortunately, we know where we’re located on the map,” said Ariana Billingsley, director of the SBTDC at ECU. “Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Matthew aren’t going to be the last storms that come through our region. The more we talk about how to prepare and react after a disaster, the more businesses we’re going to have prepared to assist others when the recovery process begins, including at the local, state and federal government levels.”
The summit’s agenda includes sessions with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the state Historically Underutilized Businesses Office on topics including resiliency building and contracting with state and federal departments after a disaster. Registration includes lunch and networking opportunities.
“First and foremost, we want our small businesses to know where contracting opportunities are posted and how to respond to these opportunities,” Billingsley said. “During the summit, we’ll cover information regarding these opportunities, including the typical what, where, when, and how.”
In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused $24 billion in total damages, including an estimated $13-18 billion in uninsured property damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
ECU volunteers recorded 5,241 hours of recovery support, collecting more than 80,000 pounds of nonperishable foods and goods and $370,131 in financial and in-kind donations. The university assisted 65 small businesses during the recovery process in nine eastern North Carolina counties, totaling 150 hours of service.
About the SBTDC
The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center is a business advisory resource for growing and developing businesses. The SBTDC’s staff provides services statewide from offices hosted by campuses of The University of North Carolina System. The SBTDC operates in formal partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency and others, making it unique in the economic development infrastructure of North Carolina. The SBTDC at ECU offers small business expertise to local businesses, provides training and education to prospective entrepreneurs, and assists community and economic developers. Learn more about the SBTDC at ECU online at http://www.sbtdc.org/offices/ecu/.
Event Details
What: 2019 Disaster Recovery Contracting Summit
When: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: ECU Willis Building, 300 East First Street, Greenville, NC 27858
Why: This one-day event is designed to help small businesses seeking local, state and federal government contracting opportunities in the event of a natural disaster.
Media Availability: 1-2:30 p.m. with Small Business and Technology Development Center at ECU Director Ariana Billingsley and a potential regional small business representative.
###
ECU News Services
Howard House, 1001 E. Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
ecunews@ecu.edu
Phone: 252-328-6481
news.ecu.edu
Contact: Matt Smith, University Communications, smithmatt17@ecu.edu
Telephone: 252-737-5423
Event Date: Wednesday, Aug. 7