UT to house center that assists landing government contracts

The University of Toledo’s Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator is a place known for helping startup companies navigate business challenges, and it will soon be expanding its services to existing businesses, too.
 
UT will hold a ribbon-cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at 10 a.m. for a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) that will be located on the first floor of the incubator located at 2600 Dorr Street.
 
PTACs are government-funded programs dedicated to providing businesses an understanding of government contracting requirements, and the know-how to obtain and perform federal, state, local, and university government contracts.
 
“The PTAC will help raise awareness of business opportunities and special programs for our local companies, as well as provide further understanding of government’s contracting standards and guidelines,” said Megan Reichert Kral, director of incubation at UT. “This program is an excellent addition to UT’s economic development resources.”
 
The PTAC program is funded through a partnership of the federal Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Minority Business Division, and UT.  
 
Speaking at the event will be Lisa Patt-McDaniel, interim director of development at the ODOD; Fatou Ndiaye, Ohio’s PTAC program manager in the ODOD; Philip Shotwell, director of minority business enterprise division of the ODOD; Reichert-Kral, director of incubation at UT; and UT President Lloyd Jacobs.
 
Other programs located at the Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator include the Manufacturing Small Business Development Center (MTSBDC) and the re-established International Trade Assistance Center (ITAC) program. These programs, along with the PTAC program serve companies in the 15 counties of northwest Ohio.
 
Toledo’s PTAC was formerly housed by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.