Need to Procure a Small Business? There’s an App for That

Virginia Governor Ral[ph Northam announced the launch of a state-wide PC and mobile-friendly application to connect users and government agencies to nearby vendors.

Source : Virginia DOT

October 1, 2021

Author : Alex Bustillos

The app features a map of Virginia that shows the locations of vendors that match whatever keyword you plug in. We tested it with the search term “concrete” and were shown a busy constellation of results between Lynchburg and Roanoke. 

According to the governor’s press release, the app includes approximately 100,000 vendors and searches can be further refined to include only small businesses including those owned by women, minorities (SWaM), and service-disabled veterans.

“Virginia is stronger because of our small businesses,” Governor Northam said. “This app makes it easier than ever to support our local, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses. I encourage all Virginians to take advantage of Start Small to find vendors that fit their needs.”

The Start Small app is meant to help agencies that routinely purchase contracting services, like the Department of Transportation, find registered companies.

“With the Virginia Department of Transportation constructing and maintaining over 57,000 miles of roadway across the Commonwealth, in addition to the equipment and tools necessary to keep Virginia moving, our agency does business with vendors and suppliers across the state,” the Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen C. Brich said. VDOT was the creator of the app alongside the Department of General Services.

“We are proud to contribute to the growth and success of Virginia entrepreneurs and the economy by supporting small businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled veterans,” Brich added.

According to the press release, dozens of businesses register with the state’s e-procurement portal, eVA, every day. “There are nearly 13,000 small, women-owned, and minority-owned certified vendors registered in eVA. More than 191,000 purchase orders, worth more than $1.5 billion, were issued through eVA to small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses in fiscal year 2020,” the press release states.

You can check out the app for yourself here.

Category : Minority Business Enterprises Small Business Enterprises Veteran Business Women Business Enterprises Contractor Trades Department of Transportation State Government Tech Procurement Public Works

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