• Link to Facebook
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Flickr
  • Link to Slideshare
  • Link to Rss this site
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
SBDC Tampa Bay
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • Certifications
      • Business Certifications
      • Minority-Owned Business
      • Woman-Owned Business
      • Veteran-Owned Business
    • Consulting & Training
      • Training
      • Training Calendar
      • Consulting
      • Schedule a Consultant
      • Consultación
    • Business Solutions
      • Growth Acceleration
      • Government Contracting
      • International Trade
      • Starting Your Business
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Student Teams
      • Financing Your Business
  • Resources
    • Business Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Insights
    • Blog
    • Media Inquiries
  • About Us
    • Mission / Vision
    • Consultants
    • Meet the Staff
    • Meet Our Clients
    • Partners / Affiliates
  • Training
    • Training Calendar
    • On-Demand Training
  • Results
    • Success Stories
    • Economic Impact
  • Locations
    • Tampa
    • Hernando County
    • Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto
    • Hillsborough
    • Manatee
    • Pasco County
    • Pinellas County
    • Polk County
    • Sarasota
  • Contact
  • Request a Consultant
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog

Increase Capacity, Experience with Local Government Contracting

Blog, Featured News, Government Contracting, SBDC News

Increase Capacity, Experience with Local Government Contracting

by Janette Blanco | January 13, 2020

Depending on the industry, when starting a business, many business owners set their sights on eventually doing business with the government. Many government contracts can be very lucrative, but more importantly, they are a reliable, steady source of income.

Inspired by Google searches, book advice, and podcast guidance, some business owners anxious to jump into this field, often times misguidedly, target federal agencies first. Federal agencies value experience and capacity above all else. In their eyes, these are attributes that can rarely be found in the public arena.

In order to build the valuable experience and capacity to attract these federal agencies, the business owner must first focus on local government agencies. Working with local government will help you develop the following pertinent resources to be attractive to federal agencies:

  • Equipment: The federal government is not going to provide you with equipment when they hire you. They expect you to have your own. Take this time working with local agencies to invest in reliable equipment that can take on any task. This time will allow you to evaluate what your equipment can handle and adjust accordingly. Make sure you maintain the equipment throughout the years, so that you don’t have to constantly invest more money replacing failed products.
  • Employees: Build a reliable team that you can trust to follow through with any task at hand. Government agencies regard stability and reliability. Giving them this experience at the local level will be a great test of these qualities and in what areas your team falls short. Put a lot of effort into hiring the best individuals for the job.
  • Money: Working with government agencies can be a very lucrative venture, but it comes with many costs. You need to be financially stable enough to build up equipment and resources as well as a reliable and competent team of employees. Using this time and gaining local contracts will help you build up that capital.
  • Relationships: During this time, it is important to develop relationships with local agencies. These relationships can help you later on when trying to get in at the federal level, because often times the agencies communicate with each other. Develop relationships with purchasing, procurement, and prime contractors, and use them as mentors so they can guide you to achieving your goals.

It is important to remember that each step of your business is just a stepping stone. Though getting into the local arena is easier than federal, there are still barriers you must overcome in order to be a viable candidate for local contracts.

Finances:
The first thing a business owner must do is to get your finances in order. Again, this is a venture that requires a lot of investment so make sure you are financially stable enough to handle it. At the very least, keep a separate bank account for the business and be sure taxes are filed on time. Track and audit your expenses, preferably digitally.

Certifications:
It is highly advantageous to be certified when doing business with the government. Some agencies actually require it. Being certified also helps alleviate redundant tasks such as filling out the same paperwork over and over again. For example, you can just say, “I am certified with Hillsborough County,” and other agencies will accept it.

It is recommended that a business take advantage of the many resources out there to become certified. There are many certifications that you could qualify for – minority, woman or veteran owned and the recent LGBT certification, to name a few. These certifications can carry you through to the federal level.

Building capacity and experience is not something that can happen overnight. Expect to put in three to five successful years at the local level before you venture into the federal arena.  Many business owners feel that the effort is worth it in the long run.

Author

Janette Blanco

Janette Blanco

Blanco, Consultants, Hillsborough

Assistant Director, Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Construction Industry Regulations and Licensing, Contract Compliance, Strategic Planning, City/County Contracting

Janette Blanco, assistant director of the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, is a civil engineer from Venezuela. As a graduate from University of Massachusetts with 25 plus years of professional experience, she has spent a decade working with the entrepreneurial community in the Tampa Bay area.

Blanco’s style and approach has given rise to the development of strong relationships with significant business leaders in the Tampa Bay area. Over the course of 10 years, Blanco has provided services to approximately 1,500 with more than 10,000 consulting hours. She was the recipient of the 2016 and 2017 Florida SBDC at USF consultant of the year award for the result of her work. She has helped clients obtain more than $48M in government contracts and capital access. Blanco also teaches business-related seminars and aids clients in English and Spanish.

Janette holds a Strategic Management Performance System certification from the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, a Master Compliance Administrator certification from the American Contract Compliance Association, a Yellow Belt certification from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification, and Post-Crisis Leadership and Diversity, Equality, Inclusion certificates, both from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.

Read more
https://enwqtxc9es4.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/JanetteBlanco_2025WEB-e1742404388281.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 1024 1024 admin /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1728920602651.png admin2013-11-19 20:16:262025-03-19 13:44:08Janette Blanco
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://enwqtxc9es4.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/increase-contracting-capacity-scaled-1.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 1353 2560 admin /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1728920602651.png admin2020-01-13 22:28:552021-12-30 16:14:30Increase Capacity, Experience with Local Government Contracting

Categories

  • Business Essentials
  • Business Plans
  • Buying a Business
  • Certifications
  • COVID-19
  • Crowdfunding
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Economic Development
  • Finance
  • Government Contracting
  • Growing Your Business
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • International Trade
  • Marketing
  • Press Releases
  • Radio and Podcast
  • Starting a Business
  • Success Stories
  • Success Stories Videos
  • Tech Commercialization/Tech Transfer
  • Veteran
  • Web and Social Media
Subscribe to Newsletter

Contact Us

Regional Office Contact Info

USF CONNECT
3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33612

813-396-2700

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Florida SBDC Network

The Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s lead host institution. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.

Logos

Business Assistance

USFMuma

State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.01, Fla. Stat.]

© Florida SBDC at USF | contact webmaster
Link to: Super Bowl LV creates big opportunities for local businesses Link to: Super Bowl LV creates big opportunities for local businesses Super Bowl LV creates big opportunities for local businessesSuper Bowl LV creates big opportunities for local businesses Link to: Determining the True Cost of Importing Link to: Determining the True Cost of Importing Determining the True Cost of ImportingDetermining the True Cost of Importing
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
  • Get Answers