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Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
4/13/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - The Northwestern State University Small Business Development Center and the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Third Annual Business and Industry MatchMaker Program Tuesday, May 5. The event will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom on the NSU campus. Women and minority business owners are encouraged to attend.
During the program, small business owners can meet with corporate purchasing agents who want to purchase goods locally.
"It's not often that small businesses have the opportunity to meet with more than 15 purchasing agents in one place in the same day," said Mary Lynn Wilkerson, director of NSU's Small Business Development Center. "The purchasing agents are here solely to develop relationships with local small businesses."
Companies and government agencies planning to participate include: Alliance Compressors, Boise Cascade, Casino Magic, the City of Natchitoches, ConAgra Broiler Company, Fort Polk and the Louisiana Department of Labor. Also scheduled to take part are: the Natchitoches Parish Hospital, Natchitoches Parish Police Jury, Natchitoches Parish School Board, Roy O. Martin Lumber Co., Trus-Joist McMillan and Willamette Industries. Additional area companies have also been invited to participate.
"Each year the MatchMaker program has been a success," said Nick Pollacia, executive vice president of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce. "This is a wonderful opportunity for local businesses to take advantage of an event that will be beneficial for them and local industries."
Small businesses interested in becoming a supplier of products or services to these businesses should attend. This program will also benefit those who want to learn what these companies want and cannot find locally. Participants should bring a list of products and services they provide, a contact name, address and telephone number.
The fee for the program is $15. Participants should register in advance by calling the NSU-SBDC at 357-5611 or the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce at 352-6894.