The Illinois APEX Accelerator is hosting the 3rd Annual Government Contracting Summit on March 17, 2026, in the Chicagoland area (7600 Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park, IL). This in-person event is designed to help small businesses navigate government contracting and connect directly with key procurement decision-makers.

Attendees will learn about new 2026 federal, state, and local contracting opportunities, hear from experts, and network with industry leaders. A major highlight is the Matchmaking and Reverse Matchmaking sessions, offering one-on-one meetings with federal agencies and major prime contractors.

Participating organizations include:

• Federal agencies such as the Department of Defense (all branches), DOE, VA, NASA, HHS, FAA, and others
• Major prime contractors including Walsh Federal, Caterpillar, Accenture, Deloitte, Parsons, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and more
• State of Illinois small business and diversity supplier programs
• Municipal governments (e.g., Cook, Will, Lake, DuPage Counties, and the City of Chicago)
• Financing partners, including SBA, private financing, and DoD venture programs
• Innovation hubs like DEFENSEWERX, UIUC FAST Center, Innovation DuPage, and ARI

Agenda highlights:

• Registration: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Summit Kickoff: 8:30 – 9:30 AM
• Exhibitor Booths Open: 9:00 AM
• Local Government Contracting Panel: 9:30 – 11:00 AM
• SBA Mentor-Protégé Lunch & Learn: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
• DoD Government Contracting Panel: 2:30 – 3:30 PM
• Reverse Matchmaking: 2:00 – 4:00 PM (pre-registration required)
• Event concludes: 4:30 PM

A Networking Reception is open to exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, VIP attendees, and invited guests.
Organizations can register as Sponsors, Exhibitors, or Attendees.