Federal Business Summit in Louisville Highlights HUD's Section 3 Program

Federal Business Summit in Louisville

Small business owners and contractors recently gathered at the Louisville Urban League for a Businesses doing Business with Government Summit. This educational public event offered a wealth of information for those seeking government contract opportunities.

The event was planned by the HUD Kentucky office, which forged a successful federal partnership with the SBA and GSA. Local staff from all three agencies provided presentations. However, it was HUD that had something special in store that day with Bruce Bailey from HUD Headquarters flying in to speak on HUD's Section 3 program. This was followed by inspirational testimony given by a minority small business owner and two of his Section 3 employees.

"To me, it's all about jobs, communities and families. It means a lot to employ people from right here in the neighborhood who have nothing and then watch them build up to something", said Robert Springfield. Robert has been able to provide a path to self-sufficiency for at least 11 diverse men who he has trained thanks to some of the Section 3 plumbing contracts he has received over the years.

The Kentucky HUD office is confident that the Summit and future events like this one will lead to more businesses applying for Section 3 contracts and as a result, low-income citizens having additional opportunities to become economically self-sufficient.

###