TRAVERSE CITY — The Northwest Michigan Procurement Technical Assistance Center helped businesses earn more than $79 million in government contracts in 2018.
Nearly 400 jobs in the northwest Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula were created or sustained because of those client contract award dollars, according to a release. PTAC provides no-cost technical consulting, training, and marketing services aimed at assisting companies with obtaining and performing under local, state, and federal contracts.
The organization, a program of Networks Northwest, is based in Traverse City. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency and in part by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Recipients of PTAC services include Northern Wings, in Newberry, and DreamLab 3D, in Traverse City.
Northern Wings was named the Michigan PTAC Best Small Business of the Year. The company is an aerospace and military support system that offers services including maintenance, repair, supply chain, manufacturing, importing and exporting.
Northern Wings has used PTAC services since the company formed in 2001. Company President Dave Goudreau said in the release that starting and growing the company would have been much more difficult without PTAC, which provided training and orientation services.
DreamLab 3D’s services include 3D Modeling, small-batch manufacturing and advanced prototype modeling. Founder and CEO Brandon Williams said in the release that PTAC helps him navigate through federal guidelines and regulations.
Northwest Michigan PTAC staff members received special recognition in 2018.
Procurement Counselor Don Makowski received a Silent Partner Award from the Wisconsin Procurement Institute. Northwest Michigan PTAC Regional Director Cathy Fairbanks received the Women in Defense Michigan Chapter Horizon Industry Award.
PTAC services include one-on-one counseling, bid match notifications, contracting and subcontracting assistance, and pre- and post-award assistance.
More information is available at nwm.org/ptac.
