HUBZone Council Holiday Letter

Dear HUBZone Council Members, e are filled with gratitude and excitement as we recap the highlights and achievements of the HUBZone Council throughout 2023. It has been an extraordinary year of progress, partnerships, and purpose, and we are thrilled to share the journey with all of you.

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Our year began with a magnificent celebration that set the tone for what was to come.

In 2023, we embarked on an unforgettable partnership with the National 8(a) Association, and together, we hosted our very first Small Business Industry Awards Gala. This iconic event was a reminder of the rich history and the vital role small businesses have played in our nation, dating back to the days of World War II. It was a night of recognition, inspiration, and a deep appreciation for the incredible work being done within our communities. We hope to see many of our HUBZone family at this year’s Gala on February 7th in Atlanta, GA. In August, we had the pleasure of hosting the National HUBZone Conference, and what a stellar event it was! It was a wonderful time to see both new faces and familiar ones come together. The conference was a hub of networking, idea-sharing, and collaboration—a true testament to the strength and unity of our HUBZone community. We were inspired by the enthusiasm and innovation that filled the room, and we're excited to build on those connections in the year ahead. As we reflect on this fantastic year, we invite you to save the date for the next National HUBZone Conference, taking place in Chantilly, VA on July 23-25, 2024. We can't wait to see you there!

As the year unfolded, we continued to achieve historic success while advocating for change. We persuaded the Maryland Public Utility Commission to amend its supplier diversity goals, a significant milestone that now includes HUBZone Small Business Concerns (SBCs). This makes Maryland the first state in history of our nation to include HUBZone Small Businesses as a procurement goal.

In the legislative arena, our efforts have yielded significant results. We are thrilled to report that we hosted our first Legislative Fly-In since 2018, where we engaged with policymakers to advocate for changes crucial to the success of HUBZone businesses. While we haven't yet set a date for our 2024 fly-in, rest assured that our plan is to take the hill once again this year, continuing our advocacy on your behalf.

Furthermore, we initiated several program improvements in both the House and the Senate. Our primary focus was on enhancing price evaluation preference and eliminating the 20% requirement in qualified areas. These changes represent a brighter future for HUBZone businesses, as they level the playing field and open doors for growth and prosperity.

We believe that with your support, we can see these initiatives through to fruition. Stay tuned for upcoming calls to action, as your active involvement will be crucial in driving these changes forward. We are also excited to announce that a detailed recap of our legislative achievements will be coming soon, providing you with an in-depth look at the progress we've made and the steps we're taking to ensure the continued success of HUBZone businesses. Together, we can achieve even greater milestones in the legislative arena and secure a brighter future for all. To learn more about our advocacy efforts click here.

Coming Soon…

As we close out the year, the Council has a special surprise for our members that we believe will make things easier for everyone. Thanks to fellow HUBZone Council Member AbsoluteGIS, we will now have an interactive map to showcase our members and their capacities. This tool will help dispel misconceptions about the availability of HUBZone companies.

Additionally, we understand the challenges of verifying employee addresses, assessing new HUBZone areas, and identifying potential HUBZone businesses. That's why we've partnered with AbsoluteGIS to develop the HUBZone Validator, a tool that streamlines the process.

You can send us a spreadsheet with the addresses you wish to verify, and you'll receive a comprehensive report. Currently, we're seeking a sponsor to automate this process which would facilitate responses in real-time. Instructions on how to use the tool are available on our website. If you would like to learn more, please reach out to mapping@hubzonecouncil.org.

Over the past few months, the Council has been working with our partners at TEAMINGPRO to build out our CRM profile so that we can begin using the tool's autoconnect function to send information and updates regarding opportunities that align with our members' core industry sectors.

Tis the Season to Give A

s a nonprofit organization, the HUBZone Council relies on the generosity and support of our valued members. Both our 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(3) statuses are proudly listed on GuideStar. Your past and future charitable contributions have played and will continue to play a vital role in advancing our mission. We kindly invite you to consider supporting us this year as you contemplate your philanthropic endeavors. Make a Difference Today!

With that said wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year ahead.

From your HUBZone Council Family,

Emerging Small Business of the Year Finalists Link of video embedded

HUBZone Business of the Year Finalists

8(a)Business of the Year Finalists

Native/Tribal Business of the Year Finalists Link of video embedded

Workforce/Internship Program of the Year Finalists

Veteran Owned Business of the Year Finalists Link of video embedded

Women Owned Business of the Year Finalists

Agency of the Year Finalists

Small Business Resource of the Year Finalists

Large Prime Company of the Year Finalists

Congratulations The HUBZone Council extends its heartfelt congratulations to all our exceptional nominees for the 2024 Small Business Industry Awards.

Emerging Small Business of the Year • • • • •

ARAMIDE INC Code360 Inc. AbsoluteGIS Barnby Solutions InfoSmart Technologies Inc

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JBW Group NLP Awareness Center DBA:NLP Behavioral Consultants Priscilla Kucer Consulting Solutions LLC

HUBZone Business of the Year • • • • • • • • • • •

A3l Federal Works AdNet/AccountNet, Inc. AVCOR Construction BNL Consulting Constituent Services Worldwide Public Benefit Corporation Custom Software Systems Fortuna BMC Goldschmitt and Associates LLC GovSmart, Inc. H2L Solutions, Inc ITC Defense Corp.

• • • • • • • • • • •

J.I. Garcia Construction, Inc. K.L. Scott & Associates, LLC. PCI Manufacturing PCI Support Services, LLC Quest Safety Products, Inc. iLynx Inc. SDVOSB Materials Technology & Supply LLC - LabTECH Environments division SoftDev Incorporated The Akana Group Inc. The Bizzell Group dba Bizzell US The HABITS Group

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ITegrity, Inc. JBW Group JMA Resources, Inc. K. L Scott & Associates Management Solutions Nakupuna Solutions PCI Support Services, LLC RedSky LLC S&K Mission Support, LLC SPAARK, Inc. Strategic Solutions International / SSI Tamayo Federal Solutions, LLC The Parnin Group YOY, Inc. dba Verdis iLynx Inc.

8 (a) Business of the Year • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A-Action Janitorial Services Inc Aalis Management Consulting AdNet/AccountNet, Inc. Ahtna Design-Build, Inc. Antean Technology Axiom Consultants Inc Blue Trident, LLC Code360 Inc. Constituent Services Worldwide Public Benefit Corporation D Gillette Industrial Services Inc VIRSIG Dine Development Corporation Ethic Tech, LLC Goldschmitt and Associates LLC Inspired Solutions, Inc.

Native/Tribal Business of the Year • • •

Oneida ESC Dine Development Corporation Nakupuna Solutions

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PCI Manufacturing PCI Support Services, LLC The Akana Group Inc.

Workforce/Internship Program of the Year • •

AshBritt, Inc. Constituent Services Worldwide Public Benefit Corporation

• • •

Hive Group HUBZone Council, Inc The HABITS Group

Veteran Owned Business of the Year • • • • • • • •

Aalis Management Consulting AmeriTech Contracting AVCOR Construction Blue Trident, LLC Dead Calm Seas Marine Services Ethic Tech, LLC Fortuna BMC Goldschmitt and Associates LLC

• • • • • •

H2L Solutions, Inc Inspired Solutions, Inc. SDVOSB Materials Technology & Supply LLC - LabTECH Environments division The HABITS Group My Business Matches Inc. Planate Management Group

Women Owned Business of the Year • • • • • • • • • • •

A-Action Janitorial Services Inc Aalis Management Consulting AdNet/AccountNet, Inc. Antean Technology ARAMIDE INC AVCOR Construction, LLC Axiom Consultants Inc D. GILLETTE INDUSTRIAL SERVICES DALS Credit Solutions Co G.M. Hill Engineering, Inc. Inspired Solutions, Inc.

• • • • • • • • • •

JMA Resources, Inc. Management Solutions Priscilla Kucer Consulting Solutions LLC RedSky LLC RJS Construction, Inc. Roy Operating Company LLC DBA 3DMedia SoftDev Incorporated Tamayo Federal Solutions, LLC Vision Planning and Consulting YOY, Inc. dba Verdis

• • • • •

U.S. Department of Education Department of Homeland Security Department of Veteran Affairs Department of State U.S Department of Energy

Agency of the Year • • • • •

U.S. Department of Transportation Texas Health and Human Services Commission U.S. Army Missile Defense Agency U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Small Business Resource of the Year • • • • •

Cavalry Consulting LLC Christa Williams DALS Credit Solutions Co My Business Matches Inc. Summit Strategy

• • • •

TeamingPro TargetGov Govspend Fedmine US Department of Energy OSDBU

Large Prime Company of the Year • • •

AshBritt, Inc. General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. Parsons Government Services

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Ball Aerospace Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

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THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS