Center partners with PTAC to help businesses pursuing government contracts

Oakland County's One Stop Shop Business Center will soon be offering free counseling services that can help businesses interested in obtaining government contracts at the local, state and federal levels. Beginning Wednesday, Schoolcraft College's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) will open a satellite office in the One Stop Shop Business Center to counsel businesses interested in learning how to obtain government contracts for goods and services. The center is located on the first floor of the Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. "Our One Stop Shop Business Center is a valuable asset for startup and second-stage businesses looking to improve their bottom line," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "Adding PTAC's expertise to the many services we already offer makes it that much more convenient for businesses who want to learn the ins and outs of obtaining government contracts." A PTAC counselor will be in the center every Wednesday, meeting with scheduled clients in the morning and with walk-in clients from 1-3 p.m., said center Supervisor Greg Doyle. Morning appointments can be scheduled by calling PTAC at 734-462-4438. "We are always looking for new ways to help Oakland County businesses," Doyle said. "We are very excited to offer PTAC services here through our One Stop Shop Business Center." PTAC was created by Congress in 1985 to expand the number of businesses capable of participating in the government marketplace. Locally, the goal is to get more government contracts awarded to Southeast Michigan businesses. Since 2000, the Schoolcraft College PTAC office in Livonia has served more than 6,000 businesses and had more than 25,000 counseling sessions. In the past five years, clients have received nearly $600 million in prime government contracts. PTAC also has a satellite office at Automation Alley in Troy. Published: Tue, Jul 15, 2014