Small Biz Owners Urged To Consider Defense

DETROIT (WWJ) - Big wigs in the U.S. Defense Department are encouraging small businesses in Detroit to get in on the action. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics says the defense department contracts nearly 22 percent of its purchases from small business. 

Dr. Ashton Carter says the goal of the defense department is to expand spending with small business to 23 percent this year.

"The Defense budget isn't going to be going up like it did for the ten years after 9-1-1, but the country's going to stay in the National Security business. 

It's not going to go away. It's a pretty safe area to specialize in," he said.

Dr. Carter tells WWJ that small businesses are often more competitive and that helps the Department of Defense meet the budget pressures on spending.

Carter said Detroit may have an edge with the overlap in automotive and military segments -- and it also may help that Detroit is not new to defense, and defense is not new to Detroit.  The Detroit Small Business Defense Procurement Summit is the first of a series being held in cities across the country.