Looking to bid on a contract with the City of Knoxville but don't exactly know how to get started? Think your business is too small to compete for a piece of the $55 million in contracts that the City will be entering into this year?

Mark Wednesday, June 10, on your calendar.

The four-hour annual meet-and-greet Business Breakfast might just be a game-changer for local companies eager to grow - possibly by teaming with other companies to present more competitive bids, according to Boyce H. Evans, the City's Director of Purchasing.

"Our No. 1 goal is to help match local businesses with the right project for their products and services," Evans said. "For small and mid-size businesses, successfully bidding on a City contract can be a huge advantage. It could potentially take a small company or a start-up business to a new level.

"There are many ways for businesses to strategize and plan their bidding. Being familiar with the contract specifics is certainly helpful. Some businesses may possibly be looking for partners as a means to strengthen their collective bid proposal, with each partner focusing on what it does best."

City of Knoxville department directors, Purchasing Department managers and other top staffers will be talking with prospective business contractors during the Business Breakfast.

The free breakfast, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 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).

The breakfast is geared to local businesses so that procurement dollars can be reinvested into the local economy. Future products and services the City will need range from food and beverages to furniture and vehicles – from janitorial services to landscaping supplies.

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.

Register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2015Business-Breakfast.

Questions? Need an accommodation due to a disability? Contact Sherry Bennett at [email protected] or at 865-215-2293.