New association to get government contracts for small businesses

Wahpeton, ND (WDAY TV) - Good news for Bobcat subcontractors and other local manufacturers. A new association is forming to get government contracts for small businesses in need of more work, many hurt significantly by the Bobcat layoffs. WDAY 6 Reporter Stephanie Goetz has more.

In this hurting economy, local small manufacturing companies are looking for whatever edge they can get and a Fargo non-profit organization and a power company may have the answer. Ray-Mac in Gwinner supplies replacement blades for Bobcat buckets. After the multiple rounds of Bobcat layoffs, Kieth McFarland says their company had to layoff their own workers and cut back on hours.

"It's had an impact directly with our company."

McFarland and about 20 other sub-contactors and manufacturers are now getting help from Fargo-based Impact foundation and Ottertail Power Company. This new association will help secure government contracts for these southeast North Dakota businesses. The reason? Small businesses are rarely able to get contracts from the government.

"It's a hard river to paddle."

"As long as there's someone there to help them through the government process, that daunting red tape, jump through the hoops. If there's someone there to assist them, I think they become much more interested."

The new group can also approach big businesses that have secured government money and make parts for them.

"No small business around that has all those capabilities so if you can partner with other companies that could do that it would work just fine."

Association members say this isn't an overnight solution. That it could take two months to get a government contract or it could take two years. But they do say not going after these contracts; you'll get nothing in return.

Tags: reporter stories, stephanie goetz, business, gwinner, wahpeton