Chicago Department of Procurement Services Hosts Annual Construction Summit
Annual event brings continued resources to Chicago communities
The Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS) today held its sixth annual City of Chicago Construction Summit, drawing over 1,000 participants representing manufacturers, contractors, and suppliers of all sizes and specialties to learn about the hundreds of opportunities that will be bid this year. Attendees had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with over 60 exhibitors including City of Chicago departments; government agencies and anchor institutions; non-profit assist agencies; and support organizations about resources and upcoming construction and construction-related opportunities.
“This event, which provides educational and networking opportunities, complements our continuing efforts to help strengthen our diverse local small business community,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Businesses, including those owned by minorities, women, veterans and those with disabilities, take advantage of the unprecedented amount of resources and information they have access to today to better compete for government work, putting them in a better position to grow and thrive."
The Construction Summit was held at the JLM Life Center on Chicago’s West side. Attendees received information about the numerous programs and initiatives developed by the City of Chicago to encourage the growth of small, local, minority, women, veteran-owned, and businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities.
“Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel, DPS is committed to providing transparency and access to resources for Chicago’s business community,” said Chief Procurement Officer Jamie L. Rhee. “Our key objective is to increase the diversity of the businesses that bid on and earn city contracts. We continually are working to be a service-oriented department, which is why we host events like the Construction Summit.”
Additionally, the Construction Summit featured several workshops led by subject matter experts in procurement, certification, and employment resources to provide hands-on information and networking opportunities for attendees. For a full listing of exhibitors and information about the event, visit www.cityofchicago.org/construction.
The Construction Summit is the latest in a series of efforts to enhance the City’s procurement processes, and is a result of the Mayor’s commitment to creating a competitive, fair, and transparent procurement services for the City of Chicago.
Following the success of the Construction Summit, DPS will host the 2018 Vendor Fair on June 6, 2018 at the UIC Forum. This event which will feature over 120 exhibitors from professional services, technology, work services, and commodities from federal, state, and local government agencies. It will also include networking sessions and numerous customized workshops for businesses of all sizes and types.
To view procurement improvements, programs & initiatives implemented under Mayor Emanuel, visit: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dps/supp_info/process_improvements.html
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