Small Business Utilization Program

The University of Arizona has a full-time Small Business Utilization (SBU) Manager who assists in providing opportunities for Small Businesses to obtain University contracts for goods and services.

The SBU Manager partners and works closely with all federal, state and local agencies and major corporations to promote Small Business Development on all levels, including the U.S. Small Business Administration; all Chambers of Commerce (including ethnic chambers), the Minority Business Development Center in Phoenix; the Arizona Department of Commerce; Raytheon Missile Systems and Southwest Gas to name a few. The SBU Manager is also one of the leaders of the Minority and Small Business Alliance of Southern Arizona. This business alliance, which is composed of 25 other government agencies and corporations, coordinates the annual Minority Enterprise Development Week for Tucson and Southern Arizona. The SBU Manager meets with about 150 businesses one-on-one throughout the year, and attends and supports Small Business events to assist hundreds more Small Businesses in their efforts to obtain University and other contracts. The SBU Manager also monitors and reports on contracts awarded to Small Businesses through Federal Research Contracts and Grants received by the University, as required by federal law.