Patent Pro Bono Program for Independent Inventors and Small Businesses

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Inventors and small businesses that meet certain financial thresholds and other criteria may be eligible for free legal assistance in preparing and filing a patent application. The Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independently operated regional programs that match volunteer patent professionals with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses for the purpose of securing patent protection. Each regional program provides services for residents of one or more states. Read more

VIBE Business Plan Competition

VIBE 2018 Business Plan Competition

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The Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship (VIBE) provides an applied training environment that supports military veterans’ entrepreneurial aspirations and promotes their understanding of the modern startup life cycle.  VIBE’s Business Plan Competition is the pinnacle event for the Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Tacoma.

Learn more about the competition and how to enter here.

Find out more about VIBE on their website.

Three Essential Financial Statements for Your Small Business [SBA]

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SBA.gov community author, Paul Lester, listed the three essential financial statements a small business must have for successful growth.  Read the full blog and find out how to create these financial statements in the link below.

Accurately tracking financial data is not only critical for running the day-to-day operations of your small business, but it is also essential when seeking funding from lenders or investors to take your business to the next level.

In addition, keeping tabs of your finances can help ensure your products and services are priced right, identify what your margins are, determine your cash flow and make filing taxes easier. Read more

Up to $7,500 funds available for DBE Supportive Services (WSDOT)!

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Funding of up to $7,500 for supportive services is available to qualified DBE firms that are engaged in highway activities.

The program has two distinct parts: Read more

Upcoming Construction Projects – Seattle

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https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/FAS/PurchasingAndContracting/Contracting/PW-projects.pdf

Link contains information on upcoming City of Seattle construction projects.

WSDOT seeks comments on proposed DBE contracting goal for highway projects

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Comments accepted through Dec. 15

OLYMPIA – Contractors, trade and labor organizations, small and disadvantaged businesses and all others who may be interested in working with the Washington State Department of Transportation are invited to comment on the agency’s proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal for Federal Highway Administration contracts. Read more

City of Tacoma Hosts Event Connecting Community Members With Family-Wage Construction Jobs on July 27

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Tacoma, Wash. — The Community and Economic Development Department’s Local Employment and Apprenticeship (LEAP) Training Program Office at the City of Tacoma invites community members to a Tacoma Works event on July 27, from 6 – 8 p.m. Read more

There’s an app that connects MWBEs to the right contracts

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Matthew Flamm writes about a phone app that helps MWBEs connect with the right requests for proposals (RFP). The main point is that the goals set for minority owned businesses and women owned businesses winning government contracts are not being met. Read more

How Digital Is Your Business?

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Rieva Lesonsky discusses the importance of using digital platforms to grow and market your small business. In addition to the growth and marketing benefits, adding digital tools to your business can also:

– Create more jobs

– Reach new markets

– Introduce a new product or service

– Earn twice as much revenue than a basic small business Read more

Washington Legislature Passes 5 Public Works Related Bills – Mike Purdy’s Public Contracting Blog

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About Mike Purdy

With over 30 years of contracting experience and an additional 10 years of consulting, Mike Purdy has an extensive background in public procurement and contracting.  Mike has trained over 100 public agencies, industry associations, and businesses and he has served as a contracting manager for Seattle Housing Authority and the University of Washington. Read more

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