SANFORD — Central Carolina Community College has been selected as one of only 14 community colleges in North Carolina to host a free workshop for woman-owned small businesses on competing in the federal marketplace.

“This is a unique opportunity for CCCC and the three counties we serve,” said Dale Fey, CCCC Small Business Center director. “This specialized training event will help woman-owned businesses currently doing business with the military to better understand the changes that have occurred so as to be better able to obtain new military contracts. This is a win for them and a win for our area.”

Changes in federal contracting rules have expanded opportunities for woman-owned small businesses. The government has recently authorized “set aside” contract opportunities for WOSBs in defined industries. This will significantly increase opportunities for these businesses in the federal marketplace.

From March into June, a team of representatives from the federal Small Business Administration, N.C. Military Business Center, and the Small Business and Technology Development Center’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center will conduct the 1.5-hour training sessions in partnership with community college small business centers around the state. The NCMBC, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College, is a component of the N.C. Community College System.

The training session at Central Carolina Community College is scheduled for 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, in Sanford.

Preregistration is required to attend any of the sessions around the state. For more information and to register for a session, businesses should visit http://ncmbc.us/AdvancedWOSBTraining.php. Businesses with questions should contact the NCMBC at (910) 678-0193 or smedickc@ncmbc.us. 

“This training partnership allows us to reach women business owners all over the state,” said Lynn Douthett, SBA district director. “The WOSB program is an important tool to help women obtain greater access to federal contracts.”

The training will assist businesses that meet the designated criteria to better understand the federal policy changes and how the new rules could benefit their companies.

“The WOSB program will significantly benefit businesses that operate within the 83 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and that meet the strict ownership and management criteria included in the new WOSB program,” said Scott Dorney, NCMBC executive director.

A copy of the NAICS codes can be found at the NCMBC Web site.

Dorney said the opportunities set aside for these businesses will be highly competitive.  The program and training will initially benefit WOSBs that already do federal prime or subcontracting and can demonstrate the experience and past performance necessary to win contracts.

“This training will provide the tools to help those businesses that qualify to register, certify, pre-position and ultimately compete for and win federal contracts under this program,” Dorney said.

In addition to Central Carolina C.C., the initial training will be offered at the following community colleges: Fayetteville Technical, Western Wake Technical, Gaston, Southwestern, College of the Albermarle, Johnston, Craven, Asheville-Buncombe Technical, Cape Fear, Beaufort, Carteret, Coastal Carolina, and Central Piedmont.

Future training will include additional sites and partners, such as additional community colleges, women’s business centers, chambers of commerce, and others.