Ernst to Host Second Annual Entrepreneur Expo in Ames
WASHINGTON—During National Small Business Week, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, announced that she will host her second annual Entrepreneur Expo at Iowa State University on Tuesday, August 6. The event will feature successful small business speakers, information sessions with contracting experts, and networking opportunities with federal, state, and local agency officials.
Ernst’s Entrepreneur Expo will introduce Iowa’s small businesses to the federal marketplace and facilitate engagement with federal innovation opportunities, such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
Tuesday, August 6th, 2024
Senator Ernst’s Entrepreneur Expo
8:00 AM CT
Memorial Union at Iowa State University
2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50011
This event is open to the public, and Iowans are encouraged to RSVP here. Credentialed members of the press must RSVP to Ernst_Press@ernst.senate.gov.
“As Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, I'm honored to help our entrepreneurs and job creators expand their networks and learn more about growth opportunities at the federal level,” said Ernst. “The federal government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, and I want all our small business owners in Iowa to have the opportunity to participate. I hope to see you there!”
“The Ames Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome back the Ernst Entrepreneur Expo to our region. Last year, we saw firsthand how this positive initiative by Senator Ernst provided direct access to dozens of federal agencies for local business leaders from across Iowa, which can open new potential contracts, investments, and jobs. These local small business partners are the bedrock of our communities across the Ames region, and we want to do anything we can to support it,” said Dan Culhane, Ames Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.
“The first annual Entrepreneur Expo, put on by Senator Joni Ernst, was energizing and incredibly valuable for Iowa’s business owners. The Expo provided a space and time where Iowa businesses could meet and connect with various federal agencies to explore how we can work together. Small business is such an integral part of our economy and government needs what we have to offer. It was exhilarating to see how this new information set off light bulbs in the minds of Iowa business owners – small businesses like mine now have a roadmap to expand into the government marketplace. I was honored to be a part of it,” said Diana Kautzky, Iowa Small Business Owner.
“We strongly recommend the Expo for Iowa small businesses. Attending gave us direct access to AFWERX leaders and showed me just how much Senator Ernst and her office care about helping Iowa small businesses and our nation's military. We're building a tool to help military families, unit leaders, and senior commanders improve financial readiness. The Expo helped us learn a ton and sharpen our focus, and in the end, we were successful in getting an SBIR award,” said Jim Shelton, Iowa Small Business Owner.
Background:
In 2009, 945 Iowa small businesses were participating in federal contracting as vendors. By 2022, that number fell to 336, representing nearly a 65% loss. Ernst’s Expo is focused on giving Iowa’s small businesses a fair shot at competing for federal contracts.
Hundreds of Iowans attended Ernst’s 2023 Expo, which featured 31 federal agency departments and state entities. This gave attendees unprecedented access to small business programs and opportunities across the federal marketplace.
Ernst is leading the ACCESS (Accountability and Clarity in Contracts to Engage Small Suppliers) for Small Businesses Act to prioritize small businesses in federal contracting and ensure that our country’s national security industrial base is upheld by many American small businesses rather than dependent on a few.
In 2022, Ernst also enacted critical reforms to the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR-STTR) programs. These addressed an urgent need to protect American investment in research and development by creating a comprehensive due diligence and foreign tie vetting program, ensuring companies receiving federal funding are actually American small businesses.
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