In opening a PTAC office, the GVCC also gains business counselor Jordana Barclay, who will help companies with registration, certification and marketing for contracts.
“It’s a complicated maze for companies starting out and we want to help provide them the tools to be successful,” said Barclay. “We have access to a vast network of resources statewide available through this program at no charge. It’s going to be a great opportunity for businesses in Southwest Washington.”
Will Macia, president of Vancouver’s Last U.S. Bag Company, knows first-hand the opportunity government contracts can provide to small businesses. Six years ago, he worked hand-in-hand with the PTAC office in Lacey, Washington.
“At the time we had no idea what we were getting into,” recalled Macia. “We just knew there was an opportunity there and so we thought we would discuss it with PTAC. They gave us the groundwork and told us what we needed to do to get our certification up so that we could actually sell. That was the first step.”
Today, a large portion of Last U.S. Bag’s government business is tied to specific contracts. Securing those contracts, Macia said, was no small feat considering the relatively small size of his company. However, he added, advice from PTAC helped them do it.
“There are so many different ways to sell to the government,” he said. “You can pick far too many areas and not get very far, or you can just focus your attention on specific channels and work them as hard as you can. That was some of the advice PTAC gave us. You’re not going to cover every single agency with your product, but if you can build a relationship with one, and truly service that organization with something they need as a solution, you’ll probably do well within that channel.”
Kevin Safley, owner of Vancouver-based Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care, said that he is ready to utilize the GVCC’s PTAC office immediately. Safley, who hopes to secure a government contract for vehicle repairs and services, said that in the past he has commuted from Clark County to Tacoma, just to visit with PTAC councilors.
“Having a PTAC program down here will definitely be a huge opportunity for businesses to get involved. There is so much out there and they provide a great service,” he said.
Like Safley, Macia expects the opening of a PTAC office in Vancouver to pay immediate dividends.
“Opening the local office is really smart. I chair the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, a trade organization that strictly deals with companies that manufacture in the defense sector. For the most part, Oregon’s GCAP (Government Contract Assistance Program) has taken on the biggest role in this region. That doesn’t do companies on this side of the river a lot of good because GCAP isn’t subsidized [to work in] Vancouver. So I think having a local PTAC office will be very critical to success in securing government contracting.”
PTAC workshop
A government contracting workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 from 9-11 a.m. at the Southwest Washington Veterans Assistance Center (3925 NE 72nd Ave., Suite 103, in Vancouver). To register, call 360.314.6325.
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