Military Veterans Launch State and Local Contracting Workshop for Georgia Businesses

Veteran Institute of Procurement Graduates

Backyard Bid Bootcamp specializes in State, Local & Education contracting—teaching small businesses to win local contracts without federal complexity.

ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, October 10, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Two military veterans who specialize in State, Local, and Education (SLED) government contracting are bringing their expertise directly to Atlanta-area small businesses through an intensive, hands-on workshop designed to help them access millions in local contract opportunities.

The Backyard Bid Bootcamp, scheduled for October 16th from 10am-4pm at the Innovation Center, College of Business at Clayton State University, focuses exclusively on SLED procurement markets – where local governments purchase everything from office supplies and landscaping services to IT solutions and professional consulting.

"Small businesses often overlook SLED contracting because everyone's focused on federal," said Sheena Parker, GovConNOW founder and retired Army Signal Warrant Officer who specializes in state and local facility management contracts. "But your school district, city hall, and county government are buying right now – and SLED contracts are faster, less competitive, and more accessible than federal."

Parker, a Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program graduate and NCMA Committee Chair, partners with Bridget Fields, a USAF veteran and B2G marketing communications specialist who holds SDVOSB and DBE certifications. Together, they've helped train small business owners who have collectively won millions in SLED contract awards, with nearly half securing state and local contracts within 6 months of training.

Real Results in SLED Markets
GovConNOW participants have successfully won SLED contracts with major local entities including Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County, DeKalb, and other metro Atlanta agencies. The training focuses specifically on SLED markets, which offer significantly less competition and faster award cycles than federal contracting.

"SLED contracting is where small businesses have a real competitive advantage," explained Fields, who serves as NCMA Committee Chair for Communications. "State and local procurement officers value relationships and local presence. Our military backgrounds combined with our active SLED contracting experience help us teach businesses exactly how to position themselves to win in their own communities."

Hands-On SLED Training Experience
The SLED-focused bootcamp goes beyond theory, providing participants with identification of their optimal NAICS codes for targeting state and local contracts, live registration on key SLED platforms including Georgia Team Marketplace, AI-powered tools for proposal writing and compliance checking, real-time contract discovery and analysis exercises, and networking opportunities with potential teaming partners in local markets.

"Participants leave with everything they need to start bidding on SLED contracts immediately," Parker noted. "We're not just teaching concepts – we're getting people registered on state and local platforms, connected to local opportunities, and ready to compete in their own backyards."

Why SLED Contracting – And Why Now
While federal contracting faces shutdown uncertainties, state and local governments keep operating – and keep paying. Schools stay open. Cities maintain infrastructure. Counties provide essential services. SLED budgets run independently, creating payment reliability that federal contracts can't guarantee during political standoffs.

"This is the untapped opportunity most small businesses miss," Parker emphasized. "While everyone's fighting for complex federal contracts that might get delayed, your city, county, and school district are buying right now – and SLED procurement is what you're already equipped to handle."

The SLED-specialized bootcamp targets businesses offering services local governments purchase daily: facilities management, IT solutions, professional services, office supplies, and consulting – turning existing capabilities into steady state and local government revenue streams.

Event Details
The Backyard Bid Bootcamp will take place Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Innovation Center, College of Business at Clayton State University, 2000 Clayton State Blvd., Morrow, GA 30260. Registration is available at govconnow.co/events.
The event is open to small business owners, entrepreneurs, consultants, and service providers interested in diversifying revenue through state, local, and education government contracting.

About GovConNOW
GovConNOW specializes in helping small businesses navigate SLED (State, Local, and Education) government contracting opportunities through training, proposal writing services, and strategic consulting. Founded by military veterans, the company focuses on practical, results-driven approaches that generate real contract wins in state and local markets. What makes GovConNOW unique is that the founders are real-world SLED contractors actively managing state and local contracts, bringing current, practical insights from the field to every training session.

Bridget Fields
GovConNOW
+1 678-365-0553
email us here
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