SBA, CompTIA join forces to help small IT firms
Agreement focuses on education, training and awareness of government small-business programs.
The Small Business Administration and the trade group CompTIA have agreed to reach out to small businesses in the information technology industry to offer their help in entering the federal market, the agency announced today.
They signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate efforts to support entrepreneurs in the technology industry. They plan to help small-business start-ups and established companies access technical experts for business counseling and information about SBA programs and services, according to SBA.
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The initiative is part of SBA’s ongoing efforts to support the development of small-business initiatives in critical business sectors. Under the agreement, SBA will provide CompTIA with up-to-date information about the agency’s programs, services and resource partners. SBA will provide speakers to participate in training sessions, seminars and conferences, and advise businesses on activities that might help them achieve their missions.
CompTIA is a nonprofit trade association that provides education and training to people in the IT industry. It will cooperate with SBA and its various partners to provide information to its members about business development services and share current SBA news and information.
The two-year alliance will include training, outreach to IT businesses and support for small-business initiatives, SBA said.
“We continue to strengthen the nation’s competitiveness by increasing outreach to entrepreneurs and providing them with the necessary tools to help them start, grow and thrive,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in the announcement.
Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer of CompTIA, said the agency has numerous resources to help the technology industry as the government invests in IT companies.
“This strategic alliance recognizes the critical role of IT companies as strong contributors to the nation’s economic growth,” he said.