Businesses Get Contracts (NAPSA)—“Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...” The famous song’s lyrics are coming true this year for thousands of small business owners nationwide who are being given the opportunity to pitch products and services to government agen- cies and private companies. A new “matchmaking”pro- gram puts small businesses together with government agencies and private companies. Thanksto the national Business Matchmaking Program—a partnership among the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Hewlett-Packard—small businesses can conduct face-to-face meetings with federal, state and local government agencies, as well as participating private companies. Before a matchmaking “event,” small business owners and buyers complete online profiles providing information about their offerings. Based on the profiles, a matchmaking software solution creates the best possible matches and sets appointments. Ordinarily, these meetings might take small businesses months to arrange—if they happenatall. In addition to pre-set appointments, matchmaking events provide small businesses valuable insight on financing options, access to technology resources and educational seminars. To learn about or register for upcoming Business Matchmaking events, visit www.uschamber.com/ events/matchmaking/default.html, or the SBA at www.sba.gov/ge.
