The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) is joining with the West Virginia District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation to present a free HUBZone workshop Tuesday, Mar. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the White Sulphur Springs Civic Center.

HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification provides small businesses advantages when bidding on federal government contracts. HUBZone-certified small businesses qualify for the program’s set-aside contracts and receive a 10 percent price evaluation preference when competing for open contracts.

The workshop will cover how to apply the requirements of the HUBZone program to help small businesses receive their fair share of federal contracting opportunities.

The morning session will include an overview of HUBZones: what they are, where they are and how to become certified. The afternoon session will focus on where to find HUBZone contracting opportunities and how to navigate the application process.

George Murray, SBA deputy district director in West Virginia, will lead the workshop. Murray has been educating small business owners and operators about government contracting opportunities for more than a decade.

Within the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation’s service area, all of Pocahontas County and large portions of Greenbrier County are designated HUBZones.

While West Virginia historically has had one of the lowest rates of HUBZone participation, certifications have increased significantly in the past two years, according to Murray. RCBI has worked with SBA staff and other partners to promote HUBZone participation through a series of statewide workshops and social media campaigns.

Because lunch will be provided, registration is required by Mar. 22 at 3 p.m. Register at www.rcbi.org/go/hubzone. For more information, contact RCBI’s Bill Woodrum at 304-781-1670 or bwoodrum@rcbi.org.