SIU’s Illinois APEX Accelerator marks National APEX Day with training for businesses

October 04, 2024

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Illinois APEX Accelerator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will celebrate National APEX Day with three days of activities Oct. 8-10. Plans include a mayoral proclamation and variety of programs, including virtual workshops specifically designed to support local businesses and provide them with resources regarding government contracting.

The event kicks off with the "Evolving DOD (Department of Defense) Contractor Cybersecurity Requirements" training session set for 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. This must-attend event for any business that wants to work with the United States DOD will provide an overview of current cybersecurity mandates in easy-to-understand language. The Govology presentation will also highlight implementation challenges and offer resources for navigating the cybersecurity landscape.

That evening at the 6 p.m. Carbondale City Council meeting at the Civic Center, Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey will sign a proclamation recognizing Oct. 9 as APEX Accelerator Day in Carbondale and the countless no-cost services and contributions the center provides, as well as noting the city's commitment to supporting businesses.

APEX Accelerators provide businesses interested in selling services or products to federal, state and local governments with technical assistance and guidance in researching opportunities and small business certification eligibility.

"Government contracting can add significant growth to a small business, and the center wants to help facilitate this growth in our region's businesses while increasing the contract dollars that stay in Southern Illinois," said Brenda Henderson, director of the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU. "In addition, we are a sister program with the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU, and businesses get the extra benefit of utilizing the complete hub of resources. Our team encourages businesses to reach out and join our network. We are here to help businesses grow and succeed - at no cost to them."

Additional workshops and training

The workshop and training opportunities continue online the next two days. The DOD Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) will present Special Workshop on Resources, Programs and Certifications from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 9. This workshop, presented in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA), will incorporate information about APEX Accelerators, SBA programs and certification process for small businesses and key opportunities.

Rounding out the celebration is the launch of the new GovCon Success 101 cohort from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 10. This is the first of a three-part training series, with additional sessions set for Oct. 17 and 24 at the same time. The series includes essential guidance and information for any business that would like to succeed in the government contracting market.

Pre-registration is required. Sign up online.

Discover more

Learn more about the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU, located at 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale, by visiting the website at apex.siu.edu, by calling 618-536-2355 or emailing [email protected]. Find the complete list of workshops and events on the webpage.

The Illinois APEX Accelerator is funded through a cooperative agreement with the DOD made possible through the support of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and SIU.

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