Getting his own business up and running was a slow and laborious process for Alberic Jean- Batiste, owner of 24/7 Courier Services, based in Mountainside, NJ. His efforts were interrupted first by the terror attacks of 9/11 and then by his education.

But today, with the help of UCEDC’s government procurement experts, what was once little more than a dream is a thriving reality. Batiste has several government contracts and does business all around the country.

UCEDC’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented to a business owner demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit, the potential for long-term business success, the ability to overcome obstacles, a commitment to the community, and innovation and creativity. The 2010 winner couldn’t be a better fit: long-time UCEDC client, Suresh Kapoor, LC Engineers, Rahway, NJ.

Searching for government contracts that could boost revenue is important, but it takes one of the most precious resources a business owner has: time.

Raj Sengupta, president of Marine Design and Operations, Inc., has solved this dilemma by taking advantage of UCEDC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), which alerts the company to government solicitations that might be of interest.

UCEDC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) prides itself on going the extra mile to help small businesses win government contracts. For Solar Compounds Corp. of Linden, the path doesn’t matter so much as the end result.