The military is not only a force for national defense,
it’s also a power in the economic trenches.
Scott Dorney, executive
director of the N.C. Military Business Center, said small
businesses could secure contracts with the federal government.
Photo by Scott
Nicholson
Scott Dorney, executive director of the North Carolina Military
Business Center, addressed a group of local business owners Thursday
during the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch and Learn.
Dorney said there were numerous business opportunities in dealing
with the military, from fruitcakes to vacation stays to construction.
“It’s not just tanks, planes, and submarines,”
Dorney said, outlining the process by which the military and the
federal government procures goods and services. Purchases of less
than $3,000 can be done by the agency with a credit card, while
larger purchases require more stringent review.
Businesses wanting to deal with the federal government must be
prepared for additional overhead and paperwork, and Dorney said
it didn’t make sense for every kind of business, particularly
those that have been around fewer than two years. However, there
are simple resources to connect with bidding opportunities.
Matchforce.org is the electronic shopping center for the military,
with nearly 14,000 businesses statewide listed on the side. The
site matches government contractors with businesses, and an email
notification is sent to businesses that might be interested in
providing a particular service. It also lists employment opportunities.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, military spending
in North Carolina rose 22 percent in the last fiscal year, up
to $3.6 billion. That figure doesn’t include military salaries,
Dorney said.
He said the federal government was one of the few entities seeing
a growth in spending, so it made sense for businesses to partner
with them and seek out federal contracts.
Other affiliated Web sites can offer business opportunities with
a number of different federal agencies, while veterans had a better
shot at landing veteran-related contracts. The Internet is a critical
requirement for doing business with the government, Dorney said.
Though the business center is located in Fayetteville, Dorney
said the government made purchases all over the state.
The center’s goals include increasing contracts with North
Carolina firms, recruiting defense contractors, and integrating
military personal into the private workforce. It also has a business-development
team and has posted nearly 4,000 job opportunities.
Chamber of commerce president Dan Meyer encouraged local businesses
to pursue military contracts, and announced plans to have Dorney
return to the area.
The Lunch and Learn was held at the Appalachian Enterprise Center
in Boone.
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