60 PROFESSIONAL WOMANS MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE WWW.PROFESSIONALWOMANMAG.COM
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ach year, companies graduate from the U.S. Small Business Administrations Business De- velopment Program with the potential and capabil- ities to grow into successful businesses. SBAs 8(a) Program helps firms develop and grow through one- on-one counseling, training workshops, management and technical guidance. It also provides access to government contracting opportunities, allowing the companies to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace. Enter The ELOCEN Group, which is the first name spelled backwards of the owner, Necole Parker Green, who started the company in her parents base- ment in 2006. The ELOCEN Group is a woman- and minority-owned construction company specializing in construction, consulting and design services for federal and commercial clients. One of the biggest challenges for Green was gain- ing the equal respect and access to the same oppor- tunities as her male counterparts in the construction industry. She entered the SBAs 8(a) Program in 2009. While in the program, Green said, Weve been able to regularly exceed targeted goals, consistently increase staffing year over year and leverage relation- ships established throughout our engagement with SBA. The SBA certifies socially and economically dis- advantaged small businesses under its nine-year 8(a) Business Development Program. Individuals who are members of certain minority groups are presumed
SBA Helps Woman-Owned Business Receive $140 Million in Federal Contracts
socially disadvantaged. These groups include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian eligible to participate in the program. Green has since graduated from the 8(a) Program and believes it was instrumental to her growth. The proof is in the pudding. The ELOCEN Group has received more than $140 million in federal contracts throughout its tenure in the 8(a) Program. Although she has since graduated, Green has now established a joint venture agreement with the SBAs All Small Mentor-Protg Program and has partnered with large prime contractors on other federal contracts. In 2015, the SBA named The ELOCEN Group, DCs Small Business Person of the Year. For the past five years, Green has been an Ameri- can Express Summit for Success ambassador at their annual events, providing business insight to entrepre- neurs on becoming a trusted government contractor, growing to scale and successfully navigating the complexities of working with large firms. Today, The ELOCEN Groups core values con- tinue to include operating with uncompromising integrity, showing a commitment to building syner- gistic win-win relationships, offering unparalleled excellence in service through partner collaborations and melding growth opportunities into demonstrated best practices. Small businesses interested in the 8(a) Program should contact their local SBA district office to at- tend an informational session. More information and an online 8(a) application are available at: sba. gov/8abd/. Americans. Firms owned by Alaska Native Corpora- tions, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations and Community Development Corporations are also
In fiscal year 2018, small businesses received more than
$17.6
billion
in 8(a) contract dollars.
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