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 2008 on Oct. 21. The expo will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT in Cruise Terminal 3 at Port Canaveral, Fla. Admission is free and open to the public.

The annual trade show, sponsored by the NASA Kennedy Space Center Prime Contractor Board, 45th Space Wing and Canaveral Port Authority, is in its 18th year. It will feature more than 150 business and government exhibitors from throughout the nation and across 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, speakers will include U. S. Congressman Tom Feeney, U. S. Congressman Dave Weldon’s Acting District Director Pam Gillespie, NASA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Small Business Programs Glenn Delgado, Kennedy Assistant Director James E. Hattaway Jr., Kennedy Procurement Officer Dudley R. Cannon Jr., and other representatives from the 45th Space Wing and Port Canaveral. Connie Wilcox, Kennedy Small Business Specialist, 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 Kennedy Prime Contractor Board, which consists of many of Kennedy’s prime contractors to help small businesses learn how to navigate in the world of government contracting. By cosponsoring the expo, the board helps provide a one-stop environment for buyers and sellers.

For more information, please visit the Web site at:

http://expo.ksc.nasa.gov

For information about NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy