State program helps companies compete when selling to the government.
In 2013, to further support Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE) was elevated to an independent agency under the direction of the lieutenant governor's office. OSBE was charged with growing the state's economy by assisting small businesses in their efforts to launch, raise capital, and create jobs through a variety of no-cost consulting services provided by the state of Indiana.
One such program within OSBE is the Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), established to increase the number of Hoosier small businesses competing in the government marketplace. In essence, PTAC helps Indiana companies identify, compete for, and win government contracts.
Our Indiana PTAC team is staffed with counselors experienced in government contracting and acquisitions who provide a wide range of services and procurement technical assistance. They help businesses sell products or services to the appropriate government agency by offering confidential counseling services and informational workshops at no cost.
PTAC also serves as a resource to Indiana's large prime contractors and the U.S. Department of Defense military installations. Working closely with organizations such as NSWC Crane and AM General, PTAC counselors help bridge the gap between buyer and supplier, bringing to bear their knowledge of both government contracting and the capabilities of individual contractors.
Moreover, PTAC has a presence in regions all across the state to ensure that companies receive local attention. In Northwest Indiana, the PTAC office is staffed by Counselor Diana Hunter and located in Crown Point at 9800 Connecticut Drive on the Ivy Tech Community College campus. This office serves the following counties: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Newton, Jasper, Starke, Marshall, Pulaski, Fulton, Benton, White, Cass, Warren, Tippecanoe, Carroll, Fountain, Montgomery and Clinton.
In 2015 alone, the Indiana PTAC team offered access to 90 training events through which Hoosier small businesses connected with both private and public sector organizations to learn of potential contracting opportunities. This resulted in 692 businesses counseled and more than 2,741 hours of service delivered, with those businesses earning more than $9 million in contract awards.
What is clear is that this program and our dedicated OSBE staff provide a valuable service to Hoosier businesses, small and big, and play an important role enhancing quality of life across Indiana. The team looks forward to building upon the successes of previous years and continuing to play a role in making Indiana “A State That Works for Entrepreneurs!”
For more information on Indiana PTAC, visit www.in.gov/indiana-ptac.
Eric Holcomb serves as the 51st lieutenant governor of Indiana and oversees a varied portfolio that includes the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
