ON THE HORIZON

With Super Bowl XLIV in the books, North Texas' Emerging Business Program is gaining steam.

By Jamie Dougher

Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 11:31am

With Super Bowl XLIV in the books, North Texas' Emerging Business Program is gaining steam.

The program, which aims to provide opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses to receive Super Bowl XLV-related contracts, holds its second workshop Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. This meeting, titled “Training Camp”, will be more in-depth than the Oct. 27 workshop, said Robbie Douglas, who is leading the effort for the Committee.

"The second workshop is a continuation for those participants who were at the first workshop, but also new to the entire program so there will be a program overview from an NFL perspective," she said. "There will also be a repeat of how to register, what it is that you have to do online — what is the process and what are the requirements."

The second of three workshops is free and open to the public, but to procure Super Bowl contracts, business owners must start the online registration process for the program by March 31.

"I can't emphasize enough how important that deadline is," Douglas said. "If local minority- and women-owned businesses have not registered online or started the process ... they will forever have missed an opportunity to participate in the Super Bowl XLV Emerging Business Program."

Thus far, more than 1,000 small businesses have registered for the program, and more than 900 owners are registered for Thursday's workshop.

The workshop will add several elements to aid the business owners in the procurement process, such as the presence of an NFL contractor, Party Planners West.

"What will be new is that we will hear from an NFL contractor," Douglas said. "They will tell the audience what they are looking for, so they will provide an NFL contractor perspective because they are actually a purchasing entity that would have a contract to offer."

Party Planners West contracts with local Emerging Businesses for Super Bowl events, such as the annual tailgate party, a large-scale event held immediately before the game at the stadium.

Business owners attending the workshop will also benefit from hearing the story of A Joy Wallace Catering Production and Design Team in Miami, Fla., which provided catering and decor for several Super Bowl XLIV events, such as the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl.

"We'll get their perspective on what it took to be selected, and they will share other keys to their success," Douglas said.

Following the program will be a networking hour, during which attendees can visit resource tables to engage with representatives on a one-on-one basis. Industry experts in banking and insurance will be on hand to talk to business owners about funding, financial planning, insurance and bonding, as well as, agencies such as the Small Business Administration and the business development offices of community colleges.

Douglas urged business owners to become involved with the Emerging Business Program, which she called the official pathway for local minority- and women-owned businesses to procure contracts, citing the high measure of success in past Super Bowls.

"This program was designed so that everybody has an opportunity to experience a positive economic impact with the Super Bowl," she said. "It represents a collaborative spirit between the Host Committee and the NFL so that we are all engaged with making sure our minority- and women-owned business are stakeholders in the Game. Because we do want it to be much more than a game. We want it to have a lasting legacy with the community."