SMALL BUSINESS, CITY RELATIONSHIP ENCOURAGED AT REVERSE TRADE SHOW

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (April 20, 2012) - Owners and operators of local and small businesses are invited to a Reverse Trade Show on Friday, May 4 to learn how to do business with the city and what opportunities exist. Hosted by the city's Procurement and Supply Management Department, the third annual Reverse Trade Show will be held at the historic Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Representatives from city departments that purchase more than $210 million in services and supplies annually will be available to determine if a match exists between the city and prospective vendors. Attendees can ask questions, learn about current city bid opportunities and available city contracts, register as city vendors and get information on becoming a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) through the city's Business Assistance Center.

A new feature this year, the city has invited other community partners such as Progress Energy, Pinellas County Schools, the University of South Florida's Supplier Diversity Program, St. Petersburg Housing Authority, Job Corps, Pinellas County Purchasing Department, PSTA, the Pinellas County Clerk and the cities of Pinellas Park, Largo, and St. Pete Beach to participate.

St. Petersburg has current contracts with local small businesses to provide products and services for daily city operations, including construction, roofing and building materials, grounds maintenance supplies, printing services and supplies, custodial products, uniforms, and computer and technology services, and more.

"People usually don't think of the city as a consumer, but it contracts with many local businesses for products and services that allow us to serve our citizens on a daily basis," said Mayor Bill Foster. "The Reverse Trade Show is a great opportunity for those business owners to find out if their product or service can help our citizens, increase their marketability and, ultimately, their bottom line."

City departments represented at the show include Water Resources, Sanitation, Parks and Recreation, Downtown Enterprise Facilities (Sunken Gardens, the Marina, Coliseum, Albert Whitted Airport, the Port of St. Petersburg), Parking and Transportation, Codes Compliance, city Golf Courses and Libraries.

For more information about the 2012 Reverse Trade Show, visit www.stpete.org/purchasing.