May 13, 2014 - If you're the owner of a small business looking to bid on a contract with the City of Knoxville, but don't exactly know how to get started, then mark June 12 your calendar.

City of Knoxville department directors, Purchasing Department managers and other top staffers will be talking with prospective business partners during a four-hour annual meet-and-greet Business Breakfast.

The free breakfast, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, will be offered at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave.

Free parking will be available in Parking Garage C on Historic Preservation Drive (one block south of Howard Baker Jr. Avenue, across from the Knoxville Marriott).

Contracts worth millions of dollars will be up for bid with the City of Knoxville during the next 12 to 18 months, and local businesses are invited to learn more about the upcoming projects and how to do business with the City during its annual Business Breakfast.

"Every business owner should be interested in attending this breakfast," said Boyce H. Evans, Director of Purchasing. "The aim is to help match local businesses with the right project for their products and services. And for small and mid-size businesses, successfully bidding on a City contract can be a huge advantage."

The breakfast is geared to local businesses 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.

Representatives from several City departments will briefly discuss specific projects. They will present general information about the projects, the anticipated date the work will be going out for bid, and bidder qualifications, among other things. Participants will also learn about the requirements for doing business and how best to compete for business with the City of Knoxville.

In addition, officials from Knoxville's Community Development Corp. and the Public Building Authority will be on hand to outline their projects and business needs. 

Questions? Contact Sherry Bennett at [email protected] or at 865-215-2293.