Across the United States, there are programs and laws focused on including small and diverse businesses in government contracting. In Fiscal 2022, the U.S. federal government spent $1.1 trillion of its approximately $6 trillion expenditure on contractual services and supplies alone. With state and local government contracted services considered, government contracting overall is a multitrillion-dollar sector.
Navigating government contracting can seem like a daunting process; it is even more challenging for small and diverse businesses that may not have the capacity to dedicate an employee to understanding and navigating the system. Across the United States, programs and laws focused on including small businesses and diverse businesses in government contracting opportunities are available.
Jones, Tisidra: - Tisidra has been working at the intersection of creativity, policy, and entrepreneurship for over 15 years. Tisidra has a B.A. in music, with a minor in the Sociology of Difference from George Mason University. She acquired her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law and is licensed to practice law in New York and Minnesota. Tisidra has had articles and research published pertaining to diversity, access and advancing economic inclusion. She has been invited to serve as the keynote speaker; panel moderator; TEDx presenter, grant and funding judge and CLE presenter for events focused on entrepreneurship, organizational infrastructure building, business inclusion in government contracting, and equal economic opportunity. Tisidra, has also developed training programs for government entity staff pertaining to business inclusion.
Tisidra is passionate about creating systems that allow for more people to thrive. Throughout her career, and in her current role as CEO of Strong & Starlike, Consulting, Inc., Tisidra has worked with government entities, nonprofits, and businesses to design sustainable programs and policies related to economic development, economic opportunity and business inclusion. She has drafted ordinances for municipalities, state statutes and promulgated federal regulations. She has also worked with artists to engage hundreds of business owners and residents through community engagement to inform program and policy development for entities. With a lens towards making complex system more accessible, Tisidra has created guidebooks for government entities related to government contracting and has authored the book, "A Guide to Business Inclusion Programs in Government Contracting: U.S. Federal, State, and Local Programs and Laws". Tisidra's work at the intersection of art, law, and entrepreneurship has resulted in multiple awards and honors, including the 2017 International Arts and Culture Citizen Award; 2020 Minnesota Lawyer's Diversity and Inclusion Award; the Lawyers of Color 2020 Hot List and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 2021 Women in Business Award; 2022 Fearless Commerce Honoree. She was also named as the 2020-2021 Law and Public Policy Scholar for the University of St. Thomas' Center on Race, Leadership & Social Justice.
