Buy Indiana Expo targets Hoosier businesses

The U.S. Navy is looking to support small and mid-size businesses in Indiana with nearly $2 billion in contracts.

As many as 200 businesses from around the country will be in French Lick next week for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division’s 24th annual Buy Indiana Expo, which gives businesses the opportunity to showcase their capabilities with the goal of securing government contracts. The event also includes workshops to educate companies on how to conduct business with the federal government.

In an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, NSWC Crane Small Business Deputy Matt Burkett said the event on April 11 is a potential gold mine for Indiana businesses.

“I always view it as a very efficient way for small and non-traditional businesses to conduct that business development with the government because you’re going have federal employees and government folks there, as well as current support contractors all in one room with an opportunity to engage and develop relationships in an attempt to work directly or indirectly with the Navy at Crane,” Burkett said.

Burkett said working with the government is a different process, which is what necessitated the educational workshops at the expo.

“[The workshops] try to help kind of pull back the curtain to help businesses understand how to do business with us, the necessary things that they need in order to submit offers, as well as meeting with some of those current support contractors to find those subcontracting opportunities that are very important throughout the government.”

NSWC Crane says in Fiscal 2022, it doled out $1.9 billion in contracts. That number is expected to grow this year.