AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC RECEIVES VETERAN INSTITUTE FOR PROCUREMENT GROW CERTIFICATION  

Buyers from industry and government are actively shopping the VIP Marketplace and matching their requirements to VIP Graduate capabilities. The opportunity to connect our business product to Federal and Prime buyers will strengthen the core of Veteran owned small businesses.

Baltimore, Maryland March 29^th 2019; AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC recently completed the Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) GROW Program, a comprehensive training and certification program that helps veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with both military and civilian agencies they once served in uniform.

On March 28, 2019, AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC was one of 49 businesses from 13 states and the District of Columbia to graduate from the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) GROW Program. 

“Each year, the government awards hundreds of billions of dollars in federal contracts to qualified businesses to meet the needs of federal agencies and the military. To sell your products or services to the federal government, your business must meet specific requirements. The VIP Institute curriculum is designed to infuse and reinforce our capability as a highly qualified federal vendor, said De'Andre B. Wells Sgt. US Army Ret. CEO of American Group Contrax, AGXLLC. 

The first program of its kind in the nation, VIP GROW is conducted by professional subject-matter specialists in the essentials necessary to win government contracts: law, accounting, insurance, human resources, marketing and proposals. It also provides participants with access to Federal and prime contracting executives along with a national network of veteran owned small businesses that they can team with on opportunities. 

Since its launch in 2009, VIP GROW has helped 880 service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses grow.  A survey of 426 of the program's graduates determined that the size of their businesses increased by an average of 64% within a year of graduating from the Institute. More than 82% of surveyed graduates credited VIP GROW for equipping them to make recent business decisions and avoid unseen pitfalls. Additionally, veteran-owned businesses are more likely to hire, mentor and train other war veterans as they transition to private life, which is a national priority.  

"We are honored to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing them with the tools necessary to succeed as government contractors." said Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. “We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers.”

VIP GROW is a three-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program. Participants must be a C-level leader in a Veteran-owned small business operating for at least two years with a minimum of 3 full time employees, and experience working on government contracts as a prime and/or sub-contractor to a prime. With volunteer instructors and at no cost to participants, VIP GROW is fully funded by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, partners, and VIP sponsors. 

For information on AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC: Crystal Wells, 410-484-0716 ;cdw@agxgroup.org For additional information, please visit www.agxgroup.org 

For information on VIP: Barbara Ashe, 301-738-0015 x215; bashe@mcccmd.com

For additional information, please visit www.NationalVip.org or the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.