Government And Corporate Agencies On Board For Latino Coalition Matchmaking Session

WASHINGTON, -- Building on the success of last year's event, The Latino Coalition (TLC) today announced its list of confirmed government agencies and corporate procurement officers who will be on hand for the business matchmaking session that in 2009 garnered more than 300 one-on-one appointments between contracting officers and Latino entrepreneurs from across the nation.

In its ongoing work to bring more government contract opportunities to Hispanic small business owners, The Latino Coalition has helped to facilitate over 75,000 appointments that have generated an estimated $8 billion in contracts, through its sponsorship of national and regional business matchmaking events. "Business matchmaking is truly at the heart of what the Economic Summit is about and one of the key benefits The Latino Coalition brings to its members," noted Hector V. Barreto, TLC's Chairman and Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2001-2006). "There's still time, and we expect additional agencies and corporations in the coming days, but we are getting close to our deadline. We encourage Latino entrepreneurs from across the country to register and join us in Washington, DCthis coming May 4th and 5th," he added.

Among the list of confirmed corporate and government procurement participants are:


USAID	U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Transportation	U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department for Homeland Security	NASA
U.S. Department of Agriculture	Clark Construction
AT&T	EDS
PG&E	Hewlett Packard

Chairing this year's business matchmaking session will be Daniel F. Sturdivant II, Assistant Director for Outreach, U.S. Department for Homeland Security, who will also serve as moderator during the "How to do Business with the Government" panel that is also part of this two-day Summit. Another key part of the Summit are the legislative briefings, in which elected officials will inform attendees with the latest developments on legislation that affects their companies.

"As a small business owner, I need to know the issues impacting me and I need to meet the legislators who are working on my behalf, but, most importantly, I need the opportunities to earn contracts. The Latino Coalition has the right mix," saidRichard Gomez, an entrepreneur and owner of Total Corporate Solutions in Los Angeles.

For details on how to register for The Latino Coalition's Washington, D.C., procurement event, visit:www.TheLatinoCoalition.com

About the Latino Coalition

The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization based in CA, with offices inWashington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. TLC was established to address policy issues that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States. TLC's agenda is to develop initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance overall business, economic and social development of Latinos. Visit:www.thelatinocoalition.com

SOURCE The Latino Coalition