Texas State plans HUB vendor economic opportunity forum

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
September 15, 2009

Texas State University-San Marcos will host a vendor outreach and economic opportunity forum for Historically Underutilized Businesses 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center.

The vendor outreach will coincide with the fall 2009 National Association of Educational Procurement conference for the region encompassing Texas-Oklahoma-Arkansas-Louisiana.

An economic opportunity forum is part of the State of Texas’ vendor outreach efforts to increase the amount of business done with HUBs--minority- or women-owned business that have been certified by the state as meeting the criteria established to be recognized as a HUB. Part of the state’s assessment that an agency of the State of Texas is making a good faith effort to meet or exceed their HUB participation goals is through the hosting or co-sponsoring of a regional or statewide EOF.

An EOF is a “reverse” vendor show where HUB coordinators and other procurement personal staff booths so that the vendors may come by to discuss potential business opportunities. It also offers educational sessions for HUB vendors on topics such as the state’s mentor-protégé program, financial resources and alternatives, the benefits of becoming HUB certified and how to do business with State of Texas agencies and universities.

The target audience is potential and certified HUB vendors from the surrounding counties between Austin and San Antonio. In addition to state universities, various state agencies and other governmental entities are expected to send personnel to this event as part of their HUB good faith, DBE or MBE/WBE outreach efforts.

For information on securing an exhibit booth or for more details regarding the event, contact Texas State HUB Specialist Yolanda Strey at (512) 245-2523 or HUB@txstate.edu.