Description :

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will host the Inaugural Ohio MBE / Diverse Business Opportunity Expo (“MBE Expo”) at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds in Columbus on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.  The MBE Expo will feature 100 booths for state agencies, local governments, and private sector companies to highlight their opportunities for MBE & Diverse businesses. 

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The MBE Expo will also feature workshop presentations on various topics of interest and importance to minority and diverse businesses.  Some topics will include:

• An overview of DBE/ SBE/ MBE/ EDGE/ WBE/ VBE certification,
• The Importance of a Capability Statement,
• Social Media Strategy for Small Businesses,
• Building a Better Business by Leveraging Linked In,
• Understanding Loans and other Available Programs for Certified Businesses,
• How to Respond to a State Bid Request,
• Overview of Ohio Buys,
• Certified Now What?  ODOT and ODOD (Ohio Department of Development),
• Entrepreneurship for Veterans,
• Supplier Diversity Goals & Doing Business with Private Sector Corporations,
• Doing Business with County and City Government, to name a few.

We are open to other workshop topics that can be presented in 30 - 45 minutes.  If you have a topic you’d like to present, please submit the workshop idea to ODOT’s Office of Outreach at: outreach@dot.ohio.gov.

There will be networking opportunities throughout the event and there will be a panel of entrepreneurs featured during the mid-day session.  We also plan to recognize state agencies that have met or exceeded the state’s 15% MBE set-aside requirement in FY 22.

There is no cost to host a booth at the MBE Expo.  There will be 2 chairs and an 8-foot table per booth.  Feel free to bring your agency/company tablecloth, pop-up banner, and handouts.

Please reply by email to outreach@dot.ohio.gov by March 10, 2023, if you are interested in having a booth at this event or if you have a workshop topic idea.

EVENT  INFORMATION  RECAP

Who:     Ohio Department of Transportation

What:    Ohio MBE / Diverse Business Opportunity Fair   

Where:  Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds, Kasich Hall, 717 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211

When:   Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 8:30am – 4:00pm

Cost:     Free

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon.  Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Lorraine C. Stevens

Office of Outreach, Outreach Manager - Districts 5, 6, & 10

ODOT Division of Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion 1980 W. Broad Street, MS:  3270, Columbus, Ohio 43223 w 740-833-8042 c 614.949.0142 transportation.ohio.gov