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 2011” on Oct. 18. The expo runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Cruise Terminal 4 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 engineering services, computer technology, communication equipment and services, construction capabilities, safety products, and many others. Representatives from the 45th Space Wing, Kennedy prime contractors, NASA and other agencies and organizations will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

Scheduled to provide welcoming remarks during the opening ceremonies will be Joe Matheny, chairman, Port Commission, Canaveral Port Authority; Col. Rory Welch, vice commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base; Kelvin Manning, associate director for Business Operations, Kennedy Space Center; Patrick Gavin, director of community relations, Office of Congressman Posey; and Glenn Delgado, associate administrator, Office of Small Business Programs, NASA Headquarters. 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