The City and County of Denver's 2026 Supplier Opportunity Fair-hosted Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, at the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building-successfully brought together Denver's business community and city agencies for a morning of collaboration, information-sharing, and new partnerships. More than 60 suppliers attended the relaunch of the Department of General Services' signature engagement event, formerly known as "Meet the Buyer."

This year's fair was part of a citywide coordinated effort led by Director of Purchasing Michael Romero and General Services' Sourcing and Strategy team. The refreshed format focused on strengthening relationships between local businesses and the City and County of Denver teams who purchase, contract, and source goods and services.

A Morning of Meaningful Connections

Attendees engaged directly with representatives from General Services, the Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO), Denver International Airport, the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, Arts & Venues, Parks & Recreation, and other city departments and agencies. Many suppliers used the drop-in style event to ask questions, explore upcoming needs, and learn how to better navigate Denver's procurement processes.

Early feedback from participating agencies and business attendees has been overwhelmingly positive. One supplier shared, "Thank you again for introducing me to so many people today! I really appreciate your advocacy!"-a reflection of the event's supportive and solutions-focused environment.

Advancing a Strategic Vision

Director of Purchasing Michael Romero highlighted how the event aligns with the Purchasing team's broader goals for the year:
"The Supplier Opportunity Fair is a strong example of what we set out to accomplish in our 2026 strategic plan-creating clearer pathways for suppliers and building meaningful partnerships that benefit both the city and our business community."

The Purchasing team and partner agencies will continue to build on the momentum from this year's fair, using insights gathered from attendees to refine future engagement opportunities and strengthen Denver's supplier network.

Looking Ahead

General Services extends its gratitude to all participating agencies, suppliers, and partners who contributed to the success of the event. More engagement opportunities are planned throughout the year as the city continues its commitment to transparency, accessibility, and collaboration in procurement.