Webinar Explains How Businesses Can Apply For Navy, Marine Contracts

There are no U.S. Navy and Marine Corps bases in West Virginia, but there are still opportunities for businesses in the Mountain State to work with them.

Small businesses in West Virginia can learn about contracting opportunities during a free virtual workshop on Dec. 8. The program is hosted by the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University.

The webinar will feature presentations by the Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs, the Regional Contracting Assistance Center and West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

It is designed to offer information for conducting business with these military branches and explain how to find upcoming contracting opportunities.

In fiscal year 2020, U.S. small businesses were awarded more than $135 billion in contracts through the Department of Defense.

“Only a small fraction of this $135 billion went to small businesses in West Virginia and the central Appalachian region,” said Derek Scarbro, RCBI deputy director. “We want to change that. This is a great opportunity to learn about available contracting opportunities, how to become a vendor and what resources are available to help navigate the process.”

To register for the webinar, contact RCAC’s Sommer Straight at sstraight@rcacwv.com or Scarbro at dscarbro@rcbi.org for more information.

RCBI is presenting Doing Business with the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps as part of the AIM Higher Consortium, a strategic initiative to strengthen the Defense supply chain in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit www.aimhigherconsortium.org.

Navy Ship to be Named After W.Va. Medal of Honor Marine

  The U.S. Navy has announced it will name a ship after Hershel “Woody” Williams, a West Virginia World War II veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Multiple media outlets report that the Navy made the announcement Tuesday, months after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., wrote a letter urging them to name a ship after Williams.

Williams says that the ship in question will be an expeditionary sea base. U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus called Williams Tuesday morning to tell him the news.

Williams was born in 1923 near Fairmont, W.Va. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1923 and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. He earned the Medal of Honor in 1945 for his actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima, as well as a Purple Heart.

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