CANTON -- Small business owners can expand their customer bases and learn how to sell their goods and services to local governments, colleges, large businesses and industries at a SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center St. Lawrence County Contracting Matchmaker event.

The “matchmaker” is from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 26, in the Richard W. Miller Woodcock Conference Suites.

An event like this is like speed dating, according to the event announcement. Businesses sign up for 10-minute meetings with purchasing officers and have that short time to network and share marketing materials and to find out about what products and services are available and explain what they need. When time is up, the business moves to the next agency.

“Our goal is to educate agencies about what is available locally and help businesses secure a contract to sell to public and private entities,” said SBDC Director Dale A. Rice. “Previous Matchmaker events have resulted in many successful connections.”

About a dozen agencies will be participating this year, including Clarkson University, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam Specialty Paper Inc., St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton, SUNY Potsdam, SeaComm Federal Credit Union, and United Helpers

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will be cohosting the event with sponsorship from Workforce Development Institute, Development Authority of the North Country (DANC), North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency. The hosting agencies will also be participating in the match sessions.

The event costs $10 for small businesses. Preregistered participants will be given priority scheduling. The event is free for purchasing officers who preregister.

More info, registration: SBDC, 386-7312, sbdc@canton.edu, www.canton.edu/sbdc.