NFL And Super Bowl Host Committee Launch Super Bowl LII Business Connect Program

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee (MNSBHC), in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), is inviting local, diverse business owners to the launch of the Super Bowl LII Business Connect Program. Business Connect is the NFL's Super Bowl supplier diversity initiative charged with identifying local, diverse and certified, event-ready businesses in Minnesota to compete for Super Bowl contracts and providing networking and professional development workshops for those businesses.

The launch event will be held on Friday, December 2^nd from 9:00am – 12:00pm at the University of St. Thomas's downtown campus, in the Law School Atrium. The program will include speaker Niles Dillard, a business owner who won Super Bowl LI contracts through the Business Connect program in Houston, who will share his experiences and give tips on what local businesses need to do to be ready when Super Bowl business comes their way. Local certification agencies will also be on hand.

"Minnesota has a strong local, diverse business community, and Super Bowl LII presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the unique products and talents our market has to offer," said Alex Tittle, Vice President of Business Connect and Corporate Affairs for the MNSBHC. "We're looking forward to working with our business community, especially those who joined us today, toward making Super Bowl LII a successful event for our visitors, our community, and our local economy."

Super Bowl LII's Business Connect Program is charged with creating contract and business development opportunities for certified minority-, woman-, veteran-, lesbian-, gay-, bisexual- and/or transgender-owned qualified, diverse businesses. The program will serve as a conduit for qualified, diverse and underutilized businesses in Minnesota to compete for contracting opportunities that will be generated by Super Bowl LII in 2018.

Super Bowl LII will have a substantial economic impact on Minnesota's business community. The Business Connect program works to ensure that locally-owned, diverse businesses are event-ready and prepared to compete for contracting opportunities in the market.

"Minnesota has a vibrant and active business community," said B.J. Waymer, who leads the NFL Business Connect program. "We are excited for the opportunity to identify local, diverse event-ready vendors and suppliers to work alongside NFL contractors and event producers to bring Super Bowl LII to life."

"Our goal is to prepare local, diverse businesses to be part of the contracting process, and to help us execute one of the world's biggest sporting events," said Maureen Bausch, CEO of MNSBHC.  "The program prepares businesses not only for the Super Bowl, but helps them compete for business with the events that will come to our market for years to come."

Experienced local businesses in the region must apply by April 30, 2017.  Businesses will be vetted by the Business Connect team and approximately 350 businesses will be invited to participate in the Super Bowl LII Business Connect program. Those businesses will be eligible to compete for Super Bowl contracts and participate in the program's networking and educational workshop series, which will be presented quarterly in 2017. Business owners can reserve their seat for the December 2^nd Super Bowl LII launch event at www.mnsuperbowl.com/business-connect

About the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee -
The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee is a private, non-profit corporation formed to plan and execute Super Bowl LII. For more information visit www.mnsuperbowl.com and follow @mnsuperbowl2018 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

About Business Connect -
Super Bowl LII Business Connect is a partnership between the National Football League and the Super Bowl LII Minnesota Host Committee to link diverse Minnesota suppliers to contracting opportunities related to Super Bowl LII. The programs intent is to provide networking, educational and other business development opportunities to encourage greater business success for each participant. Suppliers participating in the Business Connect program are not guaranteed to be awarded work with the NFL or for Super Bowl LII, but will be given full access to the program development opportunities listed above. 

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SOURCE Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee

Related Links

http://www.mnsuperbowl.com