Veteran-led GovConNOW brings local contracting summit to Atlanta

Two women military veterans are pushing small businesses to look beyond federal contracts and pursue state, local and education buyers closer to home. GovConNOW Agency says its training has already helped more than 500 businesses secure $4.2 million in contract awards, and its next summit is set for Atlanta on Nov. 14-15.

Why it matters: - State, local and education agencies buy from small businesses every day, creating a second public-sector market that many entrepreneurs overlook. - GovConNOW Agency says local contracting can help businesses expand, hire workers and build a track record for larger opportunities later. - The summit is aimed at first-time bidders and established firms looking for new customers without leaving their own communities.

What happened: - Retired U.S. Army Signal Warrant Officer Sheena Parker and U.S. Air Force veteran Bridget Fields founded GovConNOW Agency to train entrepreneurs on SLED government contracting. - The company will host a two-day Local Contracting Summit in Atlanta on Nov. 14 and 15, 2026. - The event follows an August summit at Clayton State University. - The November summit will take place in Room 240 of the Walter E. Massey Leadership Building at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

The details: - GovConNOW Agency says its programs have trained more than 500 businesses. - The company says attendees have collectively won $4.2 million in government contract awards. - The August 13-14 summit at Clayton State University’s Innovation Center covered capability statements, solicitation research, proposal preparation and how local procurement works. - The Atlanta summit will focus on local agency registration, government buyer research, solicitation evaluation, capability statement development and proposal preparation. - The program will also include ways artificial intelligence can support procurement research and proposal workflows, with human review still required. - Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops and work through exercises during the summit. - Registration is available through the event listing. - More information is available at GovConNOW Agency.

Between the lines: - Parker and Fields are reframing government contracting as a local growth strategy, not just a federal one. - Their pitch is practical, not theoretical: know which agencies buy nearby, read the solicitations and respond with stronger proposals. - The veterans are also leaning on lived experience in government work to make the training feel accessible for businesses at different stages. - Attendee feedback from the Clayton State summit suggests the hands-on format is resonating. Rena Jones called the event “phenomenal” and said it “meets you where you are.”

What's next: - GovConNOW Agency’s next test is whether the Atlanta summit can convert more small businesses from curiosity into active bidders. - Parker and Fields are positioning local procurement as an on-ramp to broader public-sector growth, rather than a replacement for federal work. - The founders are asking entrepreneurs to start by looking at what their city, county and school district are already buying.

The bottom line: - For many small businesses, the next big government contract may be much closer than they think.