SBA Introduces A New 8(a) Training Course For Small Businesses

Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration introduced a new training course for small businesses this week. The 8(a) Business Development program is one of the best tools the government has to ensure that more small disadvantaged businesses can compete and win contracts in federal, state and local procurement markets.

The four-part training program aims to inform, educate and engage qualified small contractors in the 8(a) program. Today, we’re introducing the first two courses in the program. The first, called Setting Expectations, sets the tone for the course and provides an overview of the 8(a) program. The second, called Introduction to Federal Contracting, is a 40 minute course that outlines SBA resource programs to help more small firms win contracts. This program is part of the larger online training offering under SBA’s Government Contracting Classroom and designed to assist small business owners with the government contracting process.

We’ve made small business contracting a top priority at the SBA and across the federal government. In fact, since President Obama took office, the SBA has supported over $100.2 billion in Federal government contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses and consistently exceeded the Small Disadvantaged Business goal of five percent, which includes underserved and minority firms.