Over 100 business representatives gathered at the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center’s Small Business Industry Day 2024 on October 23 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

The event, hosted by the Huntsville Center, gave local companies a unique chance to connect, showcase their capabilities, and understand how they can support the Center’s mission.

Attendees engaged with Huntsville Center’s project development teams to clarify requirements for future projects and gain insight into contracting opportunities. The setting also allowed businesses to network with one another, expanding their connections and exchanging valuable contact information.

Hinz Consulting’s Senior Vice President Josh Thiel highlighted the benefits of attending. His firm specializes in guiding small businesses through the government contracting process, from bid preparation to navigating federal policies. “

This event has been spectacular for networking,” Thiel remarked, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interactions to build lasting professional relationships and raise awareness of Hinz’s consulting services.

For Nicole Boone, Chief of Huntsville Center’s Office of Small Business Programs, Industry Day goes beyond traditional networking. Boone explained that the event serves a dual purpose: promoting small business growth while also supporting the nation’s defense infrastructure.

“We are a vital part of the Army Small Business Programs Team and a leader within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Boone noted. “By optimizing business opportunities for small companies to support the Center’s programs, we strengthen our nation’s economic development.”

Boone stressed that the Center’s commitment to small business is a critical part of its operations, citing last year’s $2 billion in total obligations for projects and services supporting multiple military branches and federal agencies.

“More than half of those funds—over $1 billion—went to small businesses,” Boone shared. “We’re committed to working with small, disadvantaged, women-owned, HUBZone, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned companies, aligning with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.”

Boone pointed out that contracting with small businesses contributes to the local economy by funding salaries and U.S.-manufactured products, with money flowing back into communities.

“At the Huntsville Center, we consider small businesses to be the heart of the U.S. economy and a vital part of the Army Corps of Engineers’ procurement process,” she said.