Local business owners and entrepreneurs will get the opportunity Saturday to learn how to meet the requirements and compete for contracts with the city, state or federal government during a special summit at the Vicksburg Auditorium.

The Emerging Business Summit, sponsored by the city, the Mississippi Development Authority, city of Jackson and Plan B Financial Solutions, will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature speakers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MDA, and the cities of Vicksburg and Jackson who will provide information on the process of getting certified and seeking government contracts.

Booths from different organizations will also be on hand, and U.S. Rep. Benny Thompson (D-Miss.) will be the featured speaker.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said the idea for the summit came after he attended a program at Alcorn State University.

“They had an academy and were certifying kids (students) for bonding with the state,” he said. “We’ve done that (bonding and certifying businesses) at the state level.”

He said state law requires companies and individuals who want to do business with the state to be certified in the procurement system, and thought it would be a good idea to have a program here to explain the process to local businesses.

Flaggs said some local businesses have unsuccessfully applied for contracts with the city because they lacked the necessary certification and bonding required by city ordinance and state law.

“This will show people how to get certified, because you have to be certified in order to do some these jobs (with local, state and federal government),” he said. “This educates and informs the public on the qualifications, but more importantly, it helps them know the law.”

“There’s going to be $76 million in the next three years spent in Vicksburg, when you talk about the ERDC contract, the outlet road (South Frontage Road Extension), the Wisconsin (connector road) project, and the $18 million (capital improvements program).”

Flaggs hopes the summit will pave the way for other programs, including establishing a business incubator to help develop and encourage new business and to hold classes on financial matters.

“I think we have a responsibility as city leaders to educate and inform the public as best we can,” he said. “Because the higher the education in the community, the better we can be.”