Michigan Print Shop Wins NRC Contract After SBA Matchmaking Expo
A Kalamazoo family business landed a federal procurement deal after meeting NRC officials at an SBA event in Detroit.
A father-and-son printing company from Kalamazoo, Michigan, secured a contract with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a chance encounter at the Small Business Administration's Supplier Matchmaking Expo in Detroit — an event the business owners admitted they had never considered as a path to federal work.
RJ's Printing will supply event signage, visual displays, and supply chain materials to support the NRC's external engagement operations. The award was partly driven by timing: the agency needed to replace branded materials following the launch of a new logo and required duplicate sets to staff simultaneous outreach events in multiple locations.
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Anthony Briggs, the NRC's Chief Sourcing Officer for Small Business and Supply Chain Optimization, said the company approached the agency's expo booth with printed samples that required little explanation. What made the deepest impression, however, was the owners' candor — they had no knowledge the NRC procured goods from outside vendors. "There are so many exceptional American companies that are ready to serve Federal customers, if only they knew about the opportunities available," Briggs said. He described the business as "a living example of the American dream," noting the father had purchased the company after working there as an employee.
The SBA hosted four Supplier Matchmaking Expos in 2026, in Charlotte, Detroit, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., drawing more than 2,600 attendees and facilitating over 1,400 individual matchmaking sessions. The NRC participated as a buyer at three of those events. Briggs credited the format with compressing what would have been days of vendor research and vetting into a few focused hours, accelerating a rebranding effort that might otherwise have strained agency resources.
The purchase covers table throws, display panels, QR-coded sticker materials, and design services, with the potential for follow-on orders as new NRC initiatives develop. Officials noted the expos serve a broader strategic purpose as demand for qualified nuclear-supply-chain manufacturers is expected to significantly outpace available suppliers in coming years. Continue reading at Small Business Administration.
