Wanted: Small Businesses Looking For Big Profits

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
Contact: Carolina Martinez (818) 354-9382

If you have ever dreamed of starting your own business or
expanding your existing small business, here’s your chance.

On March 1 and 2, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, Calif., will host the 13th Annual High-Tech Conference
for Small Businesses at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
During the two-day conference, participants seeking contracting
and subcontracting business can mingle with more than 250
federal, state and city government representatives and get one-
on-one counseling on how to succeed.

The conference focus is on subcontracting and marketing
opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses in
the high-tech industry and includes several “how-to” workshops
featuring up-to-date information on major programs, small
business initiatives and other topics of interest.

Two networking receptions will provide opportunities to meet
key people. Registration is $100 per person and is due no later
than February 14, 2001. Pre-registration is advised as this event
is well-attended. For hotel accommodations, contact the Westin
directly at (310) 216-5858. For further conference details,
please visit the conference Web site at

http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/boo/hightech2001.htm
or contact the conference registration desk at (818) 354-7532.

Last year, NASA awarded more than $2 billion in contracts to
minority- and women-owned firms across the United States. The
figure represents 18.3 percent of NASA’s total contract dollars
— NASA’s largest commitment ever with such firms. It compares
with just 7.2 percent or $865 million in FY 92.

Recently, NASA was named one of America’s top 50
organizations for providing multicultural business opportunities.
NASA received the honor after the first Internet-based poll
involving more than 50,000 of America’s leading women- and
minority-owned businesses. Div2000.com, a business portal
providing the link among multicultural businesses, Fortune 1000
companies, government agencies and universities, conducted the
poll. The “top 50” list also included such companies as IBM,
Boeing, Microsoft, 3Com, Wal-Mart and Cisco Systems.

JPL is managed for NASA by the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena.