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BALTIMORE, MD (October 8, 2014) - The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) and Baltimore County will host the sixth annual Meet the Primes networking event, to connect small and minority-owned businesses with prime bidders, on Wednesday, October 15. The event will take place from 8 a.m. until noon at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, located at 2200 York Road in Timonium.
The event is free and open to those interested, though registration is encouraged. Those who wish to be listed in the event booklet should register before Thursday, October 9. Registration will be open until Tuesday, October 14. Walk-ins also are welcome the day of the event.
"Meet the Primes is designed to be a very personable, low-pressure event. It's a chance to talk to people, to meet them, so that they know if they would want to work with them," said Robert Ball, MBE Outreach Liaison for Baltimore County Public Schools.
Meet the Primes is a great stepping stone for small and minority-owned businesses to make connections, find work and grow professionally. More than 550 people from small and minority-owned businesses are registered for the Meet the Primes event. Likewise, more than 100 prime bidders from government, public education, private companies and other entities will be there to make connections.
"Not only will prime bidders be there, but they'll be there with the attitude that they want to meet you, to learn about your business. That way, you have a good shot at doing some work together," Ball said. "Every year, I hear a lot of comments such as, 'I met someone here and we're going to do business together.'"
Those who register for the event will be contacted beforehand to schedule one-to-one match-making sessions, which are conducted through the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association. Those attending are encouraged to bring capability statements and references with them.
"The atmosphere is low-pressure. It makes it possible for people to talk in a positive atmosphere," Ball said. "It's a great event."
Meet the Primes is made possible through the partnership between BMC's Baltimore Regional Cooperative Purchasing Committee (BRCPC), Baltimore County, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore County Public Library, the Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore City, the City of Annapolis, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George counties.
For more information about Meet the Primes, contact Robert Ball by email at rball@bcps.org or by phone at 410-887-4334; or contact Carla Tuckerby email at ctucker@baltimorecountymd.gov or by phone at 410-887-3119.
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The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) is a nonprofit organization that works with the region's elected executives to identify mutual interests and develop collaborative strategies, plans and programs that will help improve the quality of life and economic vitality. BMC is a resource for the region.
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