The City of Franklin, the Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development Authority (FICDA), and the Northwest Commission are hosting a free training session on March 27, from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., for businesses looking to expand into the profitable world of Government Contracting. The session will cover:

• What is an APEX Accelerator? Learn how this service can help your company overcome barriers to entering the government contracting sector.

• Who is the government, and what do they buy? Understand the purchasing needs at the Federal, State, and Local levels.

• Is your company ready for government contracting? Assess if you’re prepared to take on government contracts.

• Small Business Set-Aside Programs Explore opportunities for Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, and other qualifying businesses.

• How to find bidding opportunities Learn where to find prime contracts and subcontracts.

• PA COSTARS and ITQ procurement Gain insights into Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing and ITQ processes.

• CMMC/DoD Cybersecurity Update Get the latest on the final rule and what you need to know if you’re pursuing Department of Defense contracts.

• HOT TOPIC: Foreign Ownership, Control, and Influence (FOCI) Understand why FOCI is a hot topic in the government contracting world.

This session is an excellent opportunity to learn about government contracting and how it can benefit your business! To register, contact Jess Carroll at jcarroll@franklinpa.gov or (814) 432-4476, Option 2.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s March 2025 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.