The City of Knoxville and fellow members of the East Tennessee Purchasing Association will host the fourth annual Diversity Business Expo on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 8:30 - 11 a.m. online via Zoom Breakout rooms.
Admission is free, and participants must register by Feb. 24, 2022 at
https://tiny.utk.edu/2022DiversityExpo.
If you have questions, contact Assistant Purchasing Agent Pamela Cotham, who heads the City’s Small Business and Diversity Outreach Office at 865-215-4032, Luis Garcia at 865-215-2293, or send an email to
[email protected].
This expo provides minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small businesses the opportunity to meet local agency decision makers with small dollar purchase authority, i.e. warehouse clerks, procurement card holders, requisitioners etc. It also allows businesses to meet procurement staff to discuss more formal opportunities. Everyone is welcome to attend.
General contractors will also be on hand to provide an opportunity for networking (which could lead to teaming) and prequalification on upcoming projects. Come prepared to share information about your company’s capabilities for this opportunity and to promote your business.
Examples of participating agency departments:
Police, EMS, Information Technology, Fleet, Engineering, Library, Health
Department, Schools, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Agriculture, and Maintenance
Examples of participating non-profit agencies:
Knoxville Area Urban League, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, SCORE, Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Tennessee Board of Regents, Tennessee Valley Authority, and The Knoxville Chamber
“My goal is to increase the amount of business the City does with DBEs,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said. “Our Small Business and Diversity Outreach Office works with all City departments to increase the percentage of DBEs that respond to bids, and it’s exciting to collaborate with several area agencies that share our mission to be more inclusive in our purchasing process.”
Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend the expo should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at
[email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact Title VI Coordinator Tatia M. Harris at
[email protected] or 865-215-2831.