Northwest Wayne News

Detroit is set to host the 2nd Annual Meet the Buyer Procurement Forum, an event organized by the City of Detroit's Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) to connect local suppliers with buyers from various City departments. The event aims to support small, local, Detroit-based, and minority-owned businesses by providing them with an opportunity to interact one-on-one with City procurement specialists.

Taking place on Tuesday, December 19, from 10AM to 1PM, the Meet the Buyer event will be held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC) in the 13th-floor Erma L. Henderson Auditorium. The event is open to anyone and is free of charge, but attendees are required to register beforehand.

The primary objective of the event is to help small businesses gain a better understanding of the government procurement processes and to provide them with an opportunity to ask questions directly to City procurement buyers. Additionally, attendees will receive information about the latest open bid opportunities and will have the chance to engage in one-on-one discussions with procurement specialists.

Sandra Yu Stahl, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer, expressed the City's excitement about the event, stating, "We are excited to offer this second Meet the Buyer event to give businesses a chance to interact face-to-face with City department buyers. All are welcome, especially our small, minority-owned Detroit-based businesses who may be unfamiliar with our procurement processes."

LaTonia Stewart-Limmitt, Deputy Chief Procurement Officer from the Office of Contracting and Procurement, emphasized the benefits of the event for businesses, stating, "This is a great opportunity for businesses to ask questions about specific bids, connect with buyers from various departments, and even register as a vendor with the City. This is part of our ongoing effort to outreach to small, minority-owned, Detroit-based businesses to make them aware of all the bid opportunities in City government."

To attend the Meet the Buyer event, interested individuals must register in advance through the provided registration link. For any inquiries or questions, business owners are encouraged to contact Ciarra Williams at [email protected]

Overall, the Meet the Buyer event in Detroit presents a valuable opportunity for local suppliers to connect with City department buyers, gain insights into procurement processes, and explore potential bid opportunities. The City's commitment to supporting small, minority-owned businesses reflects its dedication to fostering economic growth and inclusivity within the local community.

To find out more, go to this link: https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-host-meet-buyer-event-connect-city-department-buyers-local-suppliers