The State of Mississippi is going to help local small businesses learn to get government contracts.

The Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program, are holding a three-hour small business contracting seminar Thursday at the Vicksburg Convention Center from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“We go over doing business with the government; it’s a general overview of how the government buys goods and services,” said Carol Harris, bureau manager for the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program. “The (state’s) Contract Procurement Technical Assistance Program provides assistance to small businesses that are interested in securing contracting opportunities with the government.”

Harris said the program will feature speakers from the state, the city of Vicksburg, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who will explain the regulations and procedures necessary to apply for and gain a service contract.

Harris said MDA holds seminars are held throughout the state.

“It has been very successful,” she said. “The Contract Procurement Center has over 2,400 clients and we assist clients all over the state with contracting opportunities.”