Prairie View A&M University to Launch a Government Contracting Academy in Mercedes

Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension is proud to announce its first government contracting academy called B.I.D. (Business in Development) in the Rio Grande Valley. The Community and Economic Development (CED) Unit of the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University created The B.I.D. Academy, a 7-week curriculum-based program to focuses on increasing the limited-resource community’s knowledge and skills that are necessary to compete and win state government contracts with the State of Texas HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) certification. In many instances, limited-resource clients are first-generation business owners who may lack the training and knowledge necessary to market, bid, and win state/county contracts, says CED Willacy County Agent Megan Rodriguez.

CED Hidalgo County Agent Rina Castillo shares, “There are over 200 state agencies in Texas and all of them, including universities, are required to make a good-faith effort to include HUB certified vendors in their procurement opportunities. That is why the B.I.D. Academy is so important for small businesses to get the necessary knowledge on how to get HUB certified and how to use their new HUB certification.”

The B.I.D. Academy will kick off Wednesday, May 4 at the First National Bank in Mercedes Texas. The program is 7 weeks, every Wednesday from 6-7:30PM and will end Wednesday June 15 with a graduation/mixer.  The Academy will be hybrid, starting with an in person following with virtual classes and ending with 3 in person classes. Upon program completion, participants became certified by The Community & Economic Development Unit of the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University and included on their exclusive list of trained vendors as well as free business marketing through their various multimedia outlets and network of State purchasers.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Everyone is welcome to attend. Sign up for our 2022 B.I.D. Academy https://bit.ly/RGVBIDACADEMY22

If you have any questions, contact Rina Castillo 956-383-1026 or Megan Rodriguez 956-689-2412.

B.I.D. Academy’s weekly sessions:

Session 1 IN PERSON (Wednesday, May 4) Historically Underutilized Business Overview/Navigating the new Comptroller’s website.

Session 2 Virtual (Wednesday, May 11) Business Planning/Marketing, Capability Statements

Session 3 Virtual (Wednesday, May 18) Keep Your Books: Basics Bookkeeping

Session 4 Virtual (Wednesday, May 25) Pitch Writing

Session 5 IN PERSON (Wednesday, June 1) Access to Alternative Capital

Session 6 IN PERSON (Wednesday, June 8) Supplier Diversity, Subcontracting Plans & Proposals

Session 7 IN PERSON (Wednesday, June 15) Graduation/Pitch Contest/Mixer

Prairie View A& M University

Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) is the second oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas located about 40 miles northwest of Houston. A Historically Black College and University (HBCU), with an established reputation for producing agriculturalists, engineers, nurses, and educators, PVAMU offers degrees across 36 bachelors, 30 master’s and 5 doctoral degree programs through eight colleges and schools. A member of The Texas A&M University System, the University is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research, and extension.

Cooperative Extension Program

Cooperative Extension Program delivers practical research-based knowledge to small farm producers, families, aspiring entrepreneurs, and youth in 41 Texas counties. We work with people who need us the most. Many of them have limited personal or family assets, limited opportunities or they come from communities that have limited resources. We offer programs that work for people in the areas of 4-H & Youth Development (4H), Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR), Community and Economic Development (CED) and Family and Community Health (FCH).