Registration is Now Open for the First Ever Ohio Municipalities Business Conference 

Mayor Andrew Ginther and the City of Columbus Set to Host the Inaugural Ohio Municipalities Business Conference

Registration is Now Open for the First Ever Ohio Municipalities Business Conference 

Registration is now open for the Ohio Municipalities Business Conference. The statewide conference will take place on August 2 – 3 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Hosted by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and the City of Columbus, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the two-day event will provide tangible tips, resources and business opportunities to start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. The conference will also provide an interactive platform for industry influencers, municipality leads, procurement officers, supplier diversity professionals, business owners and leaders to discuss best practices of entrepreneurship to build and grow their businesses.

“This is a great opportunity for municipalities across the state to leverage their buying power for the betterment of our small and entrepreneurial business communities, which we know are drivers of our economic growth,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “Columbus is happy to be the host for this first-of-its kind event.”

With an organizational goal of matching cities across the state with business owners, the conference aims to increase the utilization of small business enterprises in the provision of goods and services by providing a steady cycle of opportunities from city to city. Programming highlights include:

  • Municipality Matchmaker Session — A business-to-business matchmaking session with city buyers, purchasers and agencies across the state
  • Power Breakfast — A discussion of regional trends and opportunities designed toward the growth of small businesses while also highlighting the Smart Columbus initiative
  • Municipal & Business Expo — Interactive trade show highlighting business opportunities throughout the State. The Expo also provides access to municipalities and strategic business tips from industry experts along with consultation, certification assistance and exclusive one-on-one networking opportunities with procurement officers
  • Mayor’s Roundtable Luncheon — A signature conference event featuring various mayors from across the state as they discuss business trends and best practices in their respective cities

“In an effort to help build capacity and expand the landscape of growth opportunities for small and diverse businesses across Ohio, the City of Columbus is excited to launch the inaugural Ohio Municipalities Business Conference & Expo,” said Steve Francis, Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, City of Columbus. “We want to encourage doing business with diverse suppliers across jurisdictional boundaries, while strengthening the commitment to Supplier Diversity in as many cities, counties and contracting authorities as possible.”

In connection with the conference, an alliance of strategic partners has been assembled to offer resources, tools and thought leadership. Partners include the Small Business Administration, the Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council and the National Association of Women’s Business Owners – Columbus Chapter.

Early Bird registration is available now for $125. To register, learn more about the Ohio Municipalities Business Conference, or for a complete listing of scheduled events, visit https://columbus.gov/OMBC2017/ or search and use the hashtag #OMBC17.

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