Expanding Opportunities for Kentucky Small Businesses During Navy Week

Apr 29
3 min read

During Navy Week, the Kentucky APEX Accelerator, an initiative of the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC), hosted the Doing Business with the Navy & Marine Corps Small Business Workshop in partnership with the University of Kentucky.

Navy Week is designed to bring U.S. Navy personnel to cities without a large naval presence, offering a series of events that educate communities about naval services and their role in national security. This year marked the first-ever Navy Week in Lexington, held April 6 - 10.

The workshop brought together small business owners, entrepreneurs and supporting organizations from across the region for an in-depth look at how to do business with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Designed as a training session, the event focused on breaking down what can often feel like a complex federal contracting landscape into actionable steps.

Attendees heard directly from representatives of the Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs (DON OSBP), as well as the Navy SBIR-STTR program. Focused on how businesses can identify opportunities and understand procurement requirements, presentations aimed to show attendees how they can position themselves for success in a highly competitive environment, while also giving them the opportunity to engage directly with federal program leaders.

Presenters at the Navy Week Small Business Workshop

Connecting Kentucky’s Small Business Support Network

The workshop also created space for broader conversations about the support ecosystem available to Kentucky businesses. In addition to federal presenters, a range of state and university partners shared resources designed to help companies grow and compete. These organizations included the Kentucky Science & Engineering Foundation (KSEF) and KY VALOR, both initiatives of KSTC, alongside the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Kentucky Department of Economic Development and the University of Kentucky Veterans Resource Center.

Together, these organizations highlighted pathways that support businesses at different stages, from early-stage innovation and research to commercialization and entry into government contracting.

Participants traveled across Kentucky, with some making several-hour trips to attend, reflecting strong interest in this type of engagement. For many attendees, the workshop offered both new insight and practical connections.

This was my first Navy event, so I was happy to learn more about opportunities in that branch. I was also impressed with how much business the Navy has done with businesses in Kentucky. - Kellye Senez, Senez Consulting Inc.

For small businesses working to enter the federal space, opportunities like this are especially valuable.

Any opportunity to interact with federal agencies and the businesses who work with them is helpful to grow your own business. - Senez

Her perspective reflects a broader takeaway from the event: that direct engagement, combined with access to resources and partnerships, can help Kentucky businesses better position themselves in the federal marketplace.

Outside the federal and regional collaboration, the event also reflected strong coordination among KSTC’s initiatives. By bringing together the Kentucky APEX Accelerator, KSEF and KY VALOR, the workshop highlighted a unified approach to supporting Kentucky businesses, whether they are exploring research funding, scaling innovation or preparing to compete for federal contracts.

This event is a great example of the power of collaboration not only within KSTC, but across the commonwealth. When we bring together entrepreneurs, partners and industry leaders from across the state and nation, we create more opportunities for Kentucky businesses to connect and grow. - Terry Samuel, KSTC President

One Event Leading to Ongoing Opportunity

As part of Navy Week, the workshop served as both a learning opportunity and a point of connection. By linking Kentucky’s small business community with Department of the Navy resources and broader opportunities at the state and regional level, the event helped lay the groundwork for future partnerships and created pathways for Kentucky businesses to pursue new opportunities.