Aside from providing world-class facilities and excellent air service, one of our goals is to make a positive impact on our community. One way we can do this is to invest in our business community by using local businesses and providers for our business needs.

The airport is like a small city. We have police and fire-rescue departments, administrative offices, a large vehicle fleet and a maintenance department that in many ways mirrors the public works departments in local cities.  We also have an operations department and fuel facility. 

In 2014, we held our first business fair for professional services such as engineers, planners and architects. That event helped us identify potential new firms to do business with. This year, we thought to do the same for companies that provide goods and supplies.

2015 Business Opportunity Expo

On April 1, we’re hosting the 2015 Business Opportunity Expo at the Durham Convention Center. Vendors are invited to come and meet our buyers and learn how to register to do business with the Airport Authority. Attendees will learn what types of purchases are planned for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

We’re also providing the opportunity for businesses to meet and interact with one another, along with key Airport Authority decision makers. We’ll also have exhibition space available so you can share your business with us and others in attendance.

Learning and Excellence

Two of our core values as an organization are learning and excellence.  We want to learn about what types of goods and supply firms are in our region. This will allow us to expand the number of vendors we can potentially do business with in the future.  In turn, a deeper pool of potential vendors will enable us to foster a more competitive purchasing environment, leading to excellence in our finances.

Exhibit Space

We are excited to offer exhibit space for this event. Throughout the day, Airport Authority purchasers and other members of the business community will have a chance to stop by and learn more about the goods and supplies a company has to offer. Who knows? There may even be the opportunity for businesses to learn about one another and join together for future projects.

Inclusive and Diverse

We’re proud to have a robust minority-and-women-owned small business program at the airport, which allows for an inclusive and diverse pool of vendors for purchasing. During the fair, we’ll share more about that program, which includes annual goals for minority-and women-owned business spending in every purchase and procurement.  We set these goals to ensure that our contracting and purchasing practices are inclusive and open to all businesses throughout our community.

Networking Opportunities

A feature of the expo is the opportunity to network with small business owners and managers and to form connections that will be key in responding to the airport’s solicitations. Our experience has been that these connections benefit firms not only for work with RDU, but also in the wider community.

Registration

Interested in participating in our April event? Learn more and register here. 

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