CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Business leaders interested in learning more about government contracting and what local and national vendors have to offer should attend the “Business Opportunities Expo 2010” on Oct. 19. The expo runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Cruise Terminal 3 at Port Canaveral, Fla. Admission is free and open to the public.

The annual trade show is sponsored by NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Prime Contractor Board and the 45th Space Wing and Canaveral Port Authority. It will feature about 175 business and government exhibitors from across the nation and Brevard County.

Exhibitors will include vendors from a variety of product and service areas, such as computer technology, engineering services, communication equipment and services, and construction and safety products, to name a few. Representatives from the 45th Space Wing, Kennedy prime contractors, NASA and many more agencies and organizations will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

During the opening ceremonies, scheduled to provide welcoming remarks will be Rep. Bill Posey of Florida; Glenn Delgado, associate administrator, Office of Small Business Programs at NASA Headquarters; Russell Romanella, associate director, Engineering and Technical Operations at Kennedy Space Center; Bruce Deardoft, port commissioner, Canaveral Port Authority; and Col. Loretta Kelemen, commander, 45th Mission Support Group at Patrick Air Force Base. Also speaking will be Larry Third, small business specialist at Kennedy, who will recognize the contractor-of-the-year award winners.

NASA’s Central Industry Assistance Office provides support to small businesses that want to do business at Kennedy. This office works with the NASA Kennedy Prime Contractor Board, which consists of many of the center’s prime contractors to help small businesses learn how to navigate in the world of government contracting. By co-sponsoring the expo, the board helps provide a one-stop shop for buyers and sellers.

For more information, visit the expo website at: http://expo.ksc.nasa.gov/

For more information about NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy