Homestead briefers explain contracting process Published May 16, 2013 By Tim Norton 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- Conducting business with Uncle Sam can seem like an arduous task. That's why members of the 482nd Fighter Wing Contracting Office were invited to speak with more than 40 Homestead, Fla. business owners about doing business with the federal government May14. During a meeting held at the main branch of the Community Bank of Florida, Henry Burgains, 482nd FW contracting officer and Senior Airman Jordan Zipper, 482nd FW contracting specialist, provided an in-depth briefing to explain the complicated process of federal government contracts. "Our goal is to provide business owners with as much information necessary to make the contract experience as painless as possible - we are here to help them," said Burgains. "We understand it takes time when dealing with the federal government, but hopefully today we have given the folks a new outlook on the process." In 2012, the Community Bank of Florida created a program for local business owners: the Business Plus Network. "Since October, we've been meeting on the second Tuesday of the month in an effort to help educate and provide networking opportunities to businesses," said Amanda Garner, Community Bank of Florida advertising director. "Our goal is to help them grow, whether they are our customers or not." According to the 482nd FW Comptroller's Office, during fiscal year 2012, Homestead Air Reserve Base spent more than $110 million in expenditures for construction, services, and procurement of materials, equipment, and supplies. A significant amount of that money went to local businesses. For more information on conducting business with Homestead ARB and the federal government, go to http://www.fbo.gov.