Representatives of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small businesses are invited to the East Tennessee Purchasing Association’s Virtual Diversity Business Expo on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from 8 – 11:30 a.m. 

Register by Feb. 24, 2022 at: 

English: https://tiny.utk.edu/2022DiversityExpo

Spanish: https://tiny.utk.edu/Expo2022

This free, annual event aims to achieve several goals:

• Engage Diversity Business Enterprises (DBEs) – small businesses and those owned by women, minorities and veterans – with opportunities to do business with the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Blount County, Public Building Authority, Knoxville Utilities Board, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, the University of Tennessee, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Board of Regents and others; 

• Directly connect DBEs with local agency decision makers with small dollar purchase authority (i.e. requisitioners, procurement cardholders, warehouse clerks) from these agencies, which purchase millions of dollars of goods and services per year;

• Provide opportunities for small businesses or sole proprietors to network and collaborate in order to work together and/or compete for larger contracts; 

• Present information about large projects and bidding opportunities for the next year or more. 


During sessions at 8:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., the Knoxville Area Urban League will provide an update on the joint City of Knoxville and Knox County Multi-use Stadium Project, including the timeline for construction drawings and bid package information, and capacity-building training opportunities. There will also be break out rooms for the 30 contractors who have been awarded bid packages and are looking to connect with subcontractors. Information about that project is available at 
TheKaul.org/Baseball.

The Diversity Business Expo will be held via Zoom. Attendees will be able to view presentations as well as chat and share information with each other, as well as department and agency representatives. 

Contact Diversity Business Specialist Luis Garcia at 865-215-2293 or [email protected] for additional information. 

Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend the expo should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at [email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact Title VI Coordinator Tatia M. Harris at 865-215-2831.