Take a closer look around our airport, and you’ll soon realize that small business is big business at DEN. From the local restaurants gracing our concourses to the subcontractors helping keep construction on track, DEN is an incubator for Colorado businesses looking to earn their wings in the aviation industry.
There’s a valid reason why: DEN offers a variety of free educational resources, both virtual and in-person, to interested business owners throughout the year – meeting the local community where it best fits them.
Share these fast facts with a friend who’s always setting up shop at Denver farmers’ markets, and they’ll (probably) love you forever:
Business Development Training Academy (BDTA)
Format: Hybrid (in-person and virtual)
Frequency: Offered annually with training cohorts lasting 8 weeks, 9 weeks or 6 months
About the program:
Now in its fifth year, BDTA helps certified small businesses build the knowledge, skills and connections needed to compete for opportunities at DEN and beyond. Through specialized learning tracks for food, beverage and retail businesses, and construction, architecture, engineering and professional service firms, participants gain practical insights, strengthen industry partnerships and develop strategies to grow their companies.
Applications for each new cohort typically open at the end of the year.
Taking Flight at DEN
Format: Virtual
Frequency: 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month
About the program:
Members of the community get an inside glimpse of the upcoming projects planned at DEN. Project managers provide a high-level overview of their procurement opportunities then guests are invited into break-out rooms with those project managers for further Q and A, giving local business owners the chance to better understand the needs of each proposal.
Meet the Primes
Format: Virtual
Frequency: 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of every even month
About the program:
This bimonthly outreach program brings together prime contractors at DEN to share information about procurement opportunities. Learn tips and tricks from the pros in general contracting, rental cars, specialty trades, concessions, real estate, airlines, architecture and more.
Navigating the ACDBE Program
Format: Virtual
Frequency: 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of every odd month
About the program:
With wide-ranging topics related to the ACDBE certification process, this virtual training series offers a deeper dive for small business food, beverage, retail and traveler services firms. Whether preparing to apply or in the middle of re-certification, this ongoing resource gives business owners a forum to better understand all the components of an ACDBE certification.
Snack and Souvenir Expo
Format: In-person
Frequency: Annually in May
About the program:
Local vendors of pre-packaged goods are invited to pitch their products to prime concession partners already operating out of DEN. Share product samples, network with like-minded business owners and hear from panelists about how to do business with our airport.
Do Business with DEN Summit (formerly DEN’s Procurement Tradeshow)
Format: In-person
Frequency: Annually in August
About the program:
Free networking and future business opportunities await at this full-day event hosted each year by DEN. With decision makers and eager entrepreneurs all under the same roof, it is quickly becoming a highly-anticipated event for Colorado business owners.
And it doesn’t end there: DEN’s outreach and engagement team also offers additional programming – like small business certification workshops – throughout the year. There’s one easy way to make sure you don’t miss a beat on all future events: sign up for the Do Business with DEN newsletter.