Mayor Broome Welcomes Small Business Owners to EBR Matchmaking Event, Opportunity to Grow Business

Baton Rouge - February 29, 2024 - Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, in collaboration with the Louisiana Minority Business Development Agency (LMBDA), is hosting a significant event for pre-registered small businesses looking to collaborate with the City-Parish and over 50 other buyers and vendors. This Small Business Matchmaking Event is at the River Center Branch Library in downtown Baton Rouge from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2024.

"Throughout my tenure, I've prioritized engaging local small businesses with City-Parish and significant private sector entities across the state and nation. These partnerships can transform the future for our entrepreneurs and business owners in East Baton Rouge Parish," said Mayor Broome. "Last year alone, my administration allocated over $63 million to small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans. We want to increase this investment, further nurturing a supportive environment for burgeoning small business owners in the area."

Today's event is pivotal, bringing face-to-face interactions with representatives from major corporations like Amazon, Folgers, Entergy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and key government bodies such as NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and FEMA. This assembly offers small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans a rare chance to connect with various federal contracting officers and supplier diversity leaders. The day is packed with networking opportunities, educational workshops, and one-on-one matchmaking sessions, all designed to foster partnerships and streamline the procurement process to bolster supplier diversity. Small businesses are able to create their own profile on LMBDA software designed to match those businesses with buyers like City-Parish and private corporations, who have, in turn, entered into the same software the goods and services those buyers would like to purchase from small businesses. This creates a match with small businesses, helping them grow their business and secure profitable contracts with government and other private vendors.

With over 100 matched meetings already scheduled, small businesses are encouraged to attend and start building relationships with the array of vendors and buyers present. Mayor Broome's Office of Supplier Diversity has certified over 220 small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans during her administration, reinforcing the commitment to inclusive business growth within the City-Parish.