GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers have encouraged women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals who own Wisconsin-based businesses to apply to compete for 2025 NFL Draft contracts.
The Packers and the NFL have encouraged diverse business owners to apply for inclusion in the 2025 NFL Draft Source program. Applicants will be considered for inclusion in an online membership directory that NFL contractors and business partners can access to find local suppliers for the draft, which will be held April 24-26 in Green Bay.
The NFL places a strong emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds during its annual draft. When Detroit hosted the draft in the spring, minority-owned businesses received $12.1 million in contracts, or about 40% of all local contracts for draft-related work.
Is my company eligible for the Packers and NFL Draft Source program?
To be considered for the Draft Source program, a company must:
- Headquartered in Wisconsin.
- In operation since April 2022.
- Be 51% owned and operated by one or more minorities, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, or veterans.
- Be certified by at least one of the NFL-approved certification bodies.
- You must be in good standing and authorized to do business in Wisconsin.
- Be the direct source of the goods and services offered.
- Provide products or services requested by the Draft Source program.
This is a competitive process both in terms of consideration of contracts and in terms of competition for contracts. No company is guaranteed a contract.
Which NFL-approved agencies can certify a company’s eligibility?
The NFL has provided a list of national and local agencies and groups that can certify a business as minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned or LGBTQ+-owned.
National certifications can be obtained through federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Small Business Administration, as well as through national business groups such as Disability:IN, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the National Veteran Owned Business Association, the National Women Business Owners Corporation, and U.S. Black Chambers Inc.
The program also accepts certifications from the Wisconsin Department of Administration for minority-, women-, or disabled veteran-owned businesses, as well as a certification for disadvantaged businesses offered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Milwaukee County and Dane County counties, and the City of Madison.
If you are still in the certification process, you can provide proof of application and still be considered.
Job Openings: What type of work might be available for participating diverse Wisconsin-based companies?
In a press release, the Packers said that suitable companies could apply for a variety of contract work and have the opportunity to participate in networking and capacity-building activities, but inclusion in the membership directory does not guarantee a contract award.
Here are some examples of the type of work:
- Audiovisual work
- Barricades
- Business Administration
- Catering or concessions
- Temporary work
- Event production
- Entertainment
- Event Services
- Finance
- Flowers
- General contractor
- Information technology
- Building supervisor
- Legal
- management
- marketing
- transport
How to apply
The Packers and the NFL have set up a website, www.2025NFLDraftSuppliers.com, where interested companies can learn more and apply to participate in the program.
Qualified business owners can submit applications any time now, but the Packers said requests for proposals will begin being sent to NFL event production companies this fall.
Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or [email protected]Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.
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