If you have ever wondered whether business training sessions are really worth your time, you may want to take note of the latest results from the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA).

Ten Kitsap County businesses have landed more than $7.6 million in government purchases in past 18 months after receiving Procurement Technical Assistance Center training hosted by KEDA. The no-cost sessions are held monthly in our Bremerton conference room, and follow-up technical assistance also is available.

The results don’t reflect purchases of goods and services for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, so KEDA anticipates the outcome will grow for the balance of 2009 and through 2010. In a joint effort with the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC), we have identified more than $70 million of federal economic stimulus funds coming to Kitsap County public agencies, the Port Gamble S’Kallam and Suquamish Tribes, Naval Base Kitsap, and various non-profit organizations.

Expenditures of those funds are just beginning. Competitive awards for many additional ARRA initiatives have yet to be made.

It seems ironic that in an economic environment that has most governmental entities cutting budgets and operations, many of these same entities are the new customer opportunities for local businesses, directly and indirectly. That’s why KEDA has been tracking the ARRA funding flow, and frequently sending electronic announcements of new business opportunities to our business distribution lists.

If you are not receiving these notices and would like to get on our lists, please send an email with your contact information to Becky Newton at KEDA, newton [at] kitsapeda [dot] org. Meanwhile, you can find opportunities we have already distributed on our website: www.kitsapeda.org.

Selling directly to the government is not the only way to benefit. Most of the businesses that are successful in winning contracts will also be purchasing, so it’s useful to track awards as well. There may also be opportunities to develop strategic relationships with other companies in order to meet bid and capacity requirements for business you otherwise couldn’t chase on your own.

The PTAC training sessions are invaluable if you are planning to sell to the government. The sessions are provided by highly experienced procurement managers whose advice can not only guide you to the opportunities, but help you avoid a lot of headaches that can result from not understanding how government buys.

Notices of forthcoming sessions also are provided through our electronic communications.