Expo | U.S. Senator Joni Ernst

Join Senator Joni Ernst for an event for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Ames, Iowa!

On August 12th, Senator Joni Ernst, Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, is hosting her third Entrepreneur Expo.

Senator Ernst is bringing Washington, D.C. to the Heartland. The Entrepreneur Expo is an excellent opportunity for Iowa’s small businesses to learn about federal and state government contracting opportunities, federal innovation, and manufacturing programs. The event strives to introduce Iowa’s small businesses to the federal marketplace - providing an opportunity to learn how to sell their goods and services to the federal government; engage with federal innovation-focused programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs; and learn about federal manufacturing initiatives.

This event will offer networking opportunities with government agencies, prime contractors, authorized SBA lenders, and federal and state resources.

Whether you are a business owner with an early-stage venture or an experienced entrepreneur, the Expo will provide valuable insights and connections to accelerate the growth of your enterprise.

Register here

Where is the event being held? The Expo will be held from 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Iowa State University's Memorial Union (2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50011). There will be parking at Memorial Union. For more information on parking, see https://www.mu.iastate.edu/parking.
When is the deadline for registration? You may register at any time, up until the day of the live event, although we strongly encourage interested attendees to register in advance.
Where can I find more information about the event, i.e., agenda, speaker, topics? All information can be found on this website. Speaker bios and agenda will be posted soon.
Who should attend this event? This event is suitable for small businesses interested in working with the federal, state, or local government; connecting with large contractors; learning about manufacturing and innovation programs; and speaking to lenders and investors. No previous experience with these entities is necessary to attend.
What is the dress code for this event? We encourage attendees to dress in comfortable, business-casual attire.

The following federal agencies, state and local resources, and private entities will be in attendance:

Federal Agencies
- U.S. Air Force -
  - AFWERX
  - Office of Small Business Programs
- U.S. Army -
  - Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army SBIR
  - Office of Small Business Programs
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Omaha District
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration
- U.S. Department of Defense -
  - Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
  - Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- U.S. Department of Energy -
  - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
  - SBIR/STTR Programs Office
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) - Region 6 Heartland
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - National Institutes of Health, Seed Fund (NIH Seed Fund)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
- U.S. Navy - SBIR-STTR Programs
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Small Business Program
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Field Operations
- U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy
- U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) - Science and Technology Directorate
State and Local Resources
- America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - Iowa
- Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA)
- Iowa Department of Administrative Services
- Iowa Department of Transportation
- Iowa Economic Development Authority
- Iowa National Guard
- Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Services (CIRAS) APEX Accelerator
- Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center
Private Industry
- AAVIN Private Equity
- BAE Systems
- Black Hawk Economic Development
- Boeing
- Centerfield Capital Partners
- Collins Aerospace
- Eagle Private Capital
- Iowa Business Growth
- Midwest Growth Partners
- MidWestOne Bank
- National Defense Industrial Association - Iowa-Illinois Chapter
- NorthCoast Mezzanine
- Patriot Capital
- Pivotal Business Partners
- Siouxland Economic Development Corporation
- Tecum Capital
- TruBank

For further inquiries, contact us at expo@sbc.senate.gov