The City of Knoxville will award millions of dollars in contracts during the next 12 to 18 months, and City officials want local businesses to have the first opportunity to bid on those contracts.

The Purchasing Division will present "City Business: Opportunities for Your Company," an event for local businesses to become acquainted with products and services the City intends to purchase. The event will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 28th, at the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park.

"This is the best place to network and get a first look at what the City is looking for in goods and services," said Boyce H. Evans, Director of Purchasing. "Local businesses are in a great position to compete for the $65 million the City spends each year to support its operating departments as well as capital projects."

The fair encourages local businesses to bid so that procurement dollars can be reinvested into the local economy. Among the future products and services the City will need are appliances, beverages, fuel, janitorial services, landscaping supplies, office furniture, trucks and more.

From the $65 million spent to support City departments, nearly $46 million of this amount is spent on contracts valued at $25,000 or more; another $17 million is spent on smaller purchases that are acquired from small businesses. The remaining $2 million is spent on micro-purchases (within a $300 range) through the City's Purchase Card system.

Business owners will have a chance to meet with City departments and network with other business owners. Departments will make presentations in small group settings, which will allow for discussion and questions. There is no cost to attend the fair as the City uses the event as a local business outreach initiative. A free breakfast will be served and all businesses within the 16-county area are invited to attend.