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SBOP
Small Business
Opportunity Program
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Know someone who wants to do
business with Clark County? Share this newsletter.
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Shani J. Coleman
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (OCED) SBOP ADMINISTRATOR
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Hello Juana,
With the summer season winding down, the month of August is a great time to focus on streamlining business processes and implementing new ideas to grow your business. Whether you're creating new products and services, administrative tools, or revamping your marketing efforts, Artificial Intelligence could help you gain traction toward achieving your goals more quickly.
During a recent Small Business Roundtable session, Nevada's Chief Information Officer shared insights about AI and Nevada small businesses. We'll share some of those ideas in this edition of the Small Biz Update. Also inside, the SBA is upgrading its small business certification systems. You'll find out what that means for new applicants, and learn about upcoming events designed to enhance your business.
Last but not least, our County Business Development Advisory Council (BDAC) meets on August 14th. We hope you will join us!
To your success,
Shani J. Coleman
Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
SBOP Administrator
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Clark County BDAC Meets
August 14, 2024, 9:00 am
Clark County Government Center
500 S. Grand Central Pkwy
Gold Room, 4th Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89155
Clark County Business Development Advisory Council (BDAC) serves to facilitate the growth of disadvantaged businesses throughout the County by promoting equal business opportunity programs, advising the Board of County Commissioners on methods to provide more equitable access to vital business information, and reporting to the Board annually about council activities. BDAC also partners with Nevada’s entrepreneurial office to identify new businesses and opportunities. LEARN MORE ABOUT BDAC
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is upgrading its federal contracting certification systems. The upgrade begins on August 1, 2024, and during this time, the agency will not be accepting any initial certification applications. The SBA anticipates that the upgraded system will be available for new applications beginning in early September.
New and prospective applicants are encouraged to wait until the upgrade is completed before applying for federal small business certification. Most certified firms will not be affected by this pause, as those needing to renew during the upgrade period will receive guidance from their certification program.
Applications submitted before August 1st will continue to be processed during the upgrade period in the order received.
If your firm is facing a deadline on a proposal that will be impacted by your certification status before August 1, 2024, please contact the SBA at certifications@sba.gov and provide the contract number, agency, and bid due date. For more information visit https://certify.sba.gov.
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Leveraging the Power of AI for Your Business | |
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The key takeaway from the Nevada Department of Business and Industry’s quarterly Small Business Roundtable Meeting is this is an exciting time for both government and small businesses that learn how to use Artificial Intelligence effectively. Attendees learned about the latest developments in AI, how the State is using it to help improve services to constituents, and how micro and small businesses can use it to increase their competitive edge.
Nevada State Chief Information Officer Tim Galluzi shared what he called “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly” of Artificial Intelligence. Galluzi, responsible for steering Nevada’s enterprise technology, and establishing information technology and security, said there are approximately 313,000 small businesses in Nevada, and about 261,000 have no employees at all.
“When we look at staggering numbers like that, we know that folks need help... they don’t have a very deep bench of staff members that can help them develop business plans, develop copy for marketing, and do this work well. A lot of these generative AI tools can help them in that process,” said Galluzi.
Galluzi said AI can also be a powerful tool to help increase government efficiency and effectiveness, explaining the State is actively looking at ways to enhance the delivery of services to constituents, including the small business sector. For example, the team is exploring ways to enhance the user experience for businesses that rely on the SilverFlume Business Portal to start or manage business activities online.
In Galluzi's view, businesses that effectively use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini will be able to gain an advantage over those that do not. He explained that while such tools can help small teams reduce costs and accomplish more, it is also important to understand the ethical implications and to use AI responsibly. He said that while it can be tempting to take shortcuts to achieve goals, users should also stay in compliance with current laws. For example, if you’re in an industry such as healthcare that deals with HIPAA information, law enforcement, or any business dealing with confidential details, it’s important to protect all sensitive data.
Galluzi emphasized the importance of "prompt engineering" to get the best results from AI tools. There are techniques and best practices for creating prompts that generate comprehensive, tailored outputs, such as strategic documents, creative content, blog posts, and emails. If you don’t provide relevant details and context when entering prompts, the technology cannot create accurate outputs that align with your specific needs and goals.
Business resource organizations such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offer free consulting and training that can help businesses identify tools and develop implementation strategies.
For anyone interested in taking a deeper dive into leveraging AI for business, SCORE Mentor Steven Ness told participants SCORE offers a monthly webinar that introduces clients to AI tools and walks them through strategies to implement automation for their business. It is a three-part series and Ness provided a link where you can sign up for the next session, Digital Revolution Mastermind, Advanced AI-CRM Strategies Part 2, scheduled for August 13th.
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Want to Become a Vendor for Clark County?
Be Ready When SBOP Resumes
SBOP is designed to help small business owners interested in becoming vendors for Clark County by providing a variety of training that supports their efforts. The next program is pending, and we are accepting applications for eligible small businesses to be placed on the interest list for a future program.
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Save the Date
CTOBC
Committed to Our Business Community
October 17, 2024
8:00 am-2:00 pm
Las Vegas Convention Center (West Hall)
Download the Event Flyer
English Version | Spanish Version
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Save the Date
Clark County BDAC's
7th ANNUAL SBOP ALUMNI & FRIENDS MIXER
December 5, 2024
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Clark County Government Center Rotunda
Mark your calendar today!
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COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
FREE MEDIA TRAINING
August 2, 2024 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
The CSN Blackstone Launchpad group will host this free community workshop on its Campus at 700 College Drive in Henderson, Nevada 89002. The workshop will cover instruction on understanding the media, on-camera performance, relaxation techniques, mock interviews, and handling crises and tough questions from reporters.
SEE DETAILS AND REGISTER
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LATIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - NEVADA
LA OPORTUNIDAD EXPO
August 3, 2024 | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
La Oportunidad Expo, the foremost Latin Community Event in Southern Nevada, offers local businesses and entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their products and services to an audience of over 5,000 attendees and more than 100 exhibitors. Throughout the day, at the Boulevard Mall, experience fantastic music, entertainment, and engaging activities.
SEE DETAILS AND REGISTER
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NEVADA APEX ACCELERATOR
The SBA's Federal Government-Level Mentor-Protege Program (MPP)
August 15, 2024 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am (Pacific Time)
Nevada APEX Acceleratory Deputy Director Nate Jackson will present an overview of the Federal Government-Level Mentor-Protege Program (MPP). Attendees will learn what the program entails, and how it involves learning from an experienced government contractor. Participants are asked to register no later than August 14th.
SEE DETAILS AND REGISTER
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NEVADA SBDC
CYBERSECURITY BASICS FOR NON-TECHIES SERIES - PART 1
August 21, 2024 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
The “Cybersecurity Basics for Non-Techies” course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to essential cybersecurity concepts. It is designed to help beginners and non-technical individuals looking to enhance their online safety skills. Participants will learn to recognize common cyber threats such as phishing, malware, and social engineering attacks. The course includes real-life examples and case studies to illustrate the impact of cybersecurity breaches and effective prevention strategies. By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect their personal and professional data, ensuring a safer digital experience.
SEE DETAILS AND REGISTER
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NEVADA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, GOED, AND APEX ACCELERATOR
DOING BUSINESS WITH NASA THROUGH THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS
August 27, 2024 | 8:00 am - 11:45 am
This event is for Nevada small businesses that want to learn from NASA representatives about doing business with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs and to network with other event attendees. Companies with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, data analytics, and manufacturing capabilities are also encouraged to attend.
Attendees must register by August 25, 2024, using the link below (if the link does not launch, please type the link in your Internet browser).
Be sure to bring your company's one-page capability statement!
SEE DETAILS & REGISTER: https://nevadaapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/1337
DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER
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Your story or announcement could be shared in an SBOP newsletter! | |
Don't Miss Contract Opportunities
Make sure you're registered in the
Nevada Government e-Marketplace (NGEM)
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More than 25 government entities, including Clark County, Harry Reid International Airport, and the Water Reclamation District, post new contract opportunities on NGEM. Register on NGEM to be notified when opportunities related to your business are up for bid!
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Has Your Business Changed?
Keep Your Profile Up To Date
If your business contact information has changed since you first signed up for a Clark County small business training program or newsletter, please provide your new information using the "Update Profile" link at the end of this email. Never miss out on new updates that can help you grow your business.
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