Registration is now open for the 2026 Ohio Business Matchmaker, one of the largest government contracting events in the Midwest, scheduled for April 22 and 23 at Wright State University in Dayton.
Hosted by the Ohio Department of Development, the event brings together small businesses, government agencies, and contractors for training and matchmaking aimed at generating contracting opportunities. In 2024, the event facilitated more than 1,500 one-on-one meetings in a single day. More than 400 attendees represented over 160 organizations.
How the Ohio Business Matchmaker connects businesses and buyers
The Matchmaker is structured across two days.
Day one, April 22, is dedicated to training. Participants attend educational sessions covering the fundamentals of government contracting, marketing to specific agencies, and navigating the procurement process. Day two, April 23, is the matchmaking day itself. During this part of the event, small businesses participate in pre-scheduled meetings with federal, state, and local government buyers, as well as prime contractors.
The structured meetings on day two are followed by an additional hour of unscheduled networking. Ancillary businesses, such as insurance and accounting firms specializing in government contracting, are also available to assist small business owners with the back-end elements of preparing a competitive proposal. That setup matters because it gives smaller firms two paths into the room: a formal matching process before the event and open networking time on site.
Preparation begins early, with capability statements at the core
The Department of Development launched a webinar series on March 4 to help small businesses prepare. Recordings are available 48 hours after each session for those who cannot attend live. Topics covered in the webinar series include how to do business with specific agencies, understanding small business certifications, and building past performance through subcontracting.
A key preparation step is developing a capability statement. Sharon Hopkins, director of the Ohio APEX Accelerator, describes it as a resume written in government-friendly language. Government buyers use specific terminology and procurement codes. Businesses that understand that language and can demonstrate their capabilities within that framework are far more likely to secure meetings and advance toward contracts.
“Government entities are risk-averse,” Hopkins said. “They don’t want to do business with someone who might not be there in six months. The plus side is that the government recognizes that small businesses can do things efficiently, and there’s a lot of innovation within small businesses that could solve the government’s problems.”
Which businesses should attend, and why
The event is open to all businesses. However, it is particularly valuable for small businesses that are certified or interested in pursuing certifications such as MBE, EDGE, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, 8(a), and HUBZone designations. Government buyers actively seek vendors with these credentials to meet their small business contracting goals.
The government contracting market is large. Federal, state, and local agencies collectively spend billions of dollars annually on goods and services. For small businesses, securing even a single contract can generate significant and reliable revenue. The Ohio Business Matchmaker provides direct access to buyers that would otherwise require months of outreach to arrange.
Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, said the event is designed to set businesses up for long-term success. “Success in government contracting starts with understanding the process,” she said.
How to secure your spot at the 2026 Matchmaker
Registration for both business attendees and government buyer participants is available through the Ohio Business Matchmaker website. The webinar series preparation sessions continue in the weeks leading up to the April event.