MONTPELIER, Vt. — A partnership of state and federal entities is teaming up to provide small businesses a unique opportunity to discover their true love: More customers.The Vermont Agency of Transportation and Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration; and the Vermont Small Business Development Center are presenting their fourth annual Strategies for Winning Government Contracts event on Feb. 1.The highlight of the day is the matchmaker sessions that allow Vermont businesses to introduce their firms and products in one-on-one, ten-minute appointments with various state and federal agencies as well as large companies who already contract with the government.We like to call it, speed dating for businesses, said Greg Maguire, who runs the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center, formerly the Government Marketing Assistance Center, at the Vermont Department of Economic Development.Being a small or mid-sized business looking for new customers is a lot like trying to find romance: Its all a matter of opportunity and time, Maguire said. This event gives businesses the opportunity to make lots of contacts with potential customers in a very short period of time.Businesses can meet with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; General Services Administration and Postal Service; the University of Vermont; Vermont National Guard; Agency of Transportation and Departments of Information and Innovation, Buildings and General Services, and Environmental Conservation.Its not only a chance to get contracts with government agencies, but with private enterprises, said Lenae Quillen-Blume, State Director of the Vermont Small Business Development Center, a program of U.S. Small Business Administration. Companies like Fletcher Allen Health Care, Husky Injection Molding, General Dynamics, Goodrich Aerospace, and Dubois & King engineering.Participants can also get hands-on help and practical advice on getting government contracts from experts like Maguire; the Small Business Administration; and the Vermont Global Trade Partnership.This event is really an example of one of Gov. Douglas core economic development strategies: Working with partners like the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center and the SBA to strengthen and grow Vermonts existing businesses, said Mike Quinn, Vermont Commissioner of Economic Development.Vermont is a small state, but many businesses still have trouble navigating how to do business with their state and federal government agencies, said Senator Patrick Leahy, whose office helped coordinate the event. Small businesses and government procurement officials have a great opportunity in this event to meet one another face to face and make connections that could help their businesses grow while helping these agencies line up good, reliable suppliers.The $35 fee also includes breakfast and lunch, with a keynote lunch address from Melissa Dever, Vice President of engineering for Competitive Computing and an enterprise systems architect with over 25 years of applications engineering experience. Governor Jim Douglas will be on hand to deliver opening remarks.The Fourth Annual Strategies for Winning Government Contracts event takes place on Thursday, February 1st, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington.For more information, visit: www.vtsbdc.org(link is external) or call Colleen Montague at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, (802) 828-2715.-30-
Trail Blazers beat Grizzlies in play-in, earn first-round series with the Lakers How athletes protesting the national anthem has evolved over 17 years Trail Blazers, Grizzlies advance to NBA play-in game; Suns, Spurs see playoff dreams dashed After Siakam blocked a layup attempt by LeBron James, rookie Terence Davis II of Ole Miss swished a 3-pointer that put the Raptors up 12 with 3:50 left.Davis was undrafted. Siakam went 27th in the first round. Powell was a second-round pick. Last year the Raptors were the first NBA champs who didn’t have a lottery pick on their roster.This year they picked up Stanley Johnson, of Mater Dei and Arizona, who went eighth in his draft class. He played three minutes on Sunday, bringing his season total to 14.“It’s been fun,” Siakam said. “Anytime you get to shoot more, it’s good, and we still have that chemistry. Guys might have left, but most of these guys have been around for years, and we know each other and we’ve practiced together.”In this game, they flat outworked the Lakers, but there was strategy, too. Coach Nick Nurse ordered double-teams on Anthony Davis early. Whether that’s the reason Davis devolved into a long shooter in this game isn’t clear, but the offense dehydrated in a second half in which the Lakers shot 32 percent.Green didn’t get early looks and went 0-for-5. LeBron James probably deferred too much and had five field goals.“They’re the fastest team in the league,” coach Frank Vogel said of Toronto, “and when you don’t execute offensively, they take advantage of it.”Related Articles AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with PackersWhether the 2019 world champions have become a perennial, dropping blooms in the spring and then regenerating in the fall, will be decided as we go.But the Raptors again are a nightmare sight for the NBA personnel directors who somehow didn’t draft them, and they showed the Lakers, even some Lakers who should have known better, that portfolios don’t win every game.“We wanted to attack them,” said Norman Powell, who spent four years at UCLA and is now a five-year man in Toronto, waiting and working. “We wanted to make sure they knew this was going to be a hard night for them. There are a lot of guys in the league that are like the guys you saw tonight, just waiting for an opportunity. I’ve been in that spot. You’ve got some of the best players in America sitting behind some of the other best players in America.”Siakam played through a tough shooting night and had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and his two run-outs off missed shots blunted the Lakers’ comeback at the end. VanVleet, the undrafted and nerveless guard, was brilliant with 23 points and 10 assists.Boucher is a 6-foot-10 sliver from Montreal who played on Oregon’s Final Four team and was the G-League Player of the Year in 2019. He scored 18 with three blocks, and the Lakers’ famed rim-protectors could not control him. Lakers, Clippers schedules set for first round of NBA playoffs 
The Clippers took Leonard’s strength and skill away from Toronto, but the seeds he planted are still there. His relentlessness and stoicism helped the Raptors cast aside years of playoff derailment.“I think we all learned a lot from him,” Siakam said. “He never seems to get rattled. I’ve added that to my game, too. When I miss a couple of shots, Freddie will get in my ear and tell me to keep shooting them, and I play with more confidence. I’m trying to be more of a leader, too. We still have some leaders, and I’m trying to be more vocal.”On Monday night the Raptors play Leonard and the Clippers, with the added subplot of Paul George’s possible L.A. debut.“We don’t get no break,” Siakam said, smiling as he moved toward the door, wearing the team colors of a pick-me-up bouquet. Lakers practice early hoping to answer all questions PreviousLos Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsToronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet (23) scores against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) works for a rebound next to Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, scores against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis shoots over Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel talks to Anthony Davis during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) scores against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, left, blocks a shot from Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, rear, is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, center, drives past Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors’ OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)The Lakers’ LeBron James dribbles between Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, left, and Marc Gasol during the first half of an NBA game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) dunks over Toronto Raptors’ Marc Gasol (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)NextShow Caption1 of 14Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) is defended by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)ExpandLOS ANGELES — Pascal Siakam was wearing a printed, flowery shirt that evoked images of the Panama City rainforest.“Nice shirt, P,” called out Fred VanVleet, his Toronto Raptors’ teammate. “No, don’t button it. Not when you got that 130.”As in $130 million, which was Siakam’s recent four-year contract extension.His team is 7-2, without Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. His team broke the Lakers’ seven-game win streak Sunday night, 113-104, without Leonard, Green and the injured Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. Instead, mystery guests like Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson came to the fore and thrashed the Lakers by 18 points in the second half. That made the Lakers 7-2, too. Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error
The last time I checked, and correct me if I’m wrong, an all-star game usually features the best, at least for that season, performers of a particular sport. In the case of the NFL All-Star game, add to the mix a few well-endowed sisters from our 50th state with the word “aloha” flowing freely from their sensuous mouths in low provocative undertones then presto, success can be almost guaranteed. When I traveled to Honolulu for the 2005 and 2006 Pro Bowl, I considered those “working” vacations as a reward after covering long and grueling seasons. Hey, almost every season is long and taxing because I cover the AFC North and am forced to observe Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis emerge from the fog of eternity howling at the moon as if he is auditioning to be featured in the sequel of “Twilight.”Speaking of fog, whatever neurosurgeon came up with the idea of holding the Pro Bowl a week prior to the Super Bowl, with the players representing the NFC and AFC champions appearing in street clothes, must have been in possession of a few bowls of their own or at least a hookah filled with the finest marijuana imported straight from the “streets of San Francisco.”Wasn’t the “Streets of San Francisco” a television series starring Michael Douglas before he starred in the weirdo movie, “Fatal Attraction?” Well, if it isn’t, forgive me for having a few bowls of my own medicine. But back to the “problematic” bowl. An all-star game is supposed to be a reward for above average performance. What if the NHL all-star game were held a week before the Stanley Cup finals? Or baseball held their contest a week before the World Series? Would that scenario possibly cause a nightmare or two for the marketing gurus on Madison Ave.?First and foremost, MLB has it right. The all-star game means something. The reward for winning is very important. If the American League wins, then the World Series begins in an AL city. Ditto for the NL team. The Super Bowl is only one game that this is not possible but what if another system was in place?Let’s say whatever conference loses the Pro Bowl the teams in that conference, starting with the playoff qualifying franchises, would have to play the toughest schedule the following season. A format such as that would motivate the owners, coaches and players to get out there and “bust a few grapes” in order to win.Also hold the game after the Super Bowl as before so the athletes chosen to compete could have a brief respite to heal up because as we all know football is a violent game and bodies need to heal because unlike baseball, basketball or hockey, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to play an NFL game on Monday and play another contest on Tuesday.Now let’s get to the game itself. The AFC beat the NFC, 41-34. If you watched the game, you more than likely did not need a sleep aid that night. If the game was still played in Honolulu, before, during or after the game you would not be bored, trust me. What happens in Honolulu stays in Honolulu! The contest was a rainy, drizzly sort of affair that ended up being not too much more than OTAs (organized team activities) or at best, a spirited mini-camp.NFC linebacker Brian Orakpo said, “Everybody came out here trying not to get hurt and give the fans a good show.” Well Brian, as far as defenses representing the AFC and the NFC were concerned, it was not by any stretch of the imagination a “good show.”Thirty-four players chosen missed the game because of injury or because they were getting ready for Super Bowl XLIV.I remember the sunsets on Oahu and Waikiki and the food.The Pro Bowl needs a little re-tooling but not a complete overhaul. Maybe Hawaii was a bit too far to travel for some folks to observe a game that didn’t end up with a Lombardi, but for us guys in the trenches, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii is the Super Bowl.Instead of scrambling to get media to cover the Pro Bowl, maybe the NFL should whisper in the ears of the news organizations that if they don’t cover the Pro Bowl after the season then the distinct possibility might exist that unless the team in their market advances to the Super Bowl, the following year that organization may very well be denied credentials to cover the big game. As far as flights to Honolulu being booked the following year, book ’em, Dano.What the NFL All Star game needs is not a new location. It needs a new meaning.(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com. Come listen and participate on Press Pass airing on www.blogtalkradio.com beginning Feb. 11.)