Michigan Print Shop Wins NRC Contract After SBA Expo Meeting
A Kalamazoo family business landed a federal printing contract after connecting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at an SBA matchmaking event in Detroit.
A chance encounter at a federal supplier expo in Detroit has translated into a government contract for RJ's Printing, a family-owned print shop based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company will supply event signage, visual displays, and supply chain materials supporting the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's external engagement program — a deal that began when the father-and-son ownership team approached the NRC's booth at the Small Business Administration's Supplier Matchmaking Expo.
Anthony Briggs, the NRC's Chief Sourcing Officer for Small Business and Supply Chain Optimization, said the pair presented their capabilities with notable candor, including an admission that they had never previously considered the federal government as a potential customer because they were unaware the NRC existed. Briggs described the moment as a reminder of why direct industry engagement matters and cited the business's origin story — a former employee who bought the company outright — as emblematic of broader entrepreneurial ideals.
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The procurement was driven in part by practical agency needs. The NRC recently launched a new logo, requiring updated engagement materials, and expanding outreach obligations created demand for duplicate sets of displays and branded items for simultaneous events. The contract covers table throws, runners, large and small procurement-focused displays, QR-coded stickers, and design services, with potential follow-on orders as new initiatives develop.
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 the four events. Briggs said the format compressed what would have been days of vendor identification, capability vetting, and scheduling into a few focused hours, significantly accelerating the agency's rebranding timeline.
Officials say the expos are designed to strengthen domestic supply chains and connect small manufacturers with federal procurement opportunities they might not otherwise discover. For the NRC, which anticipates demand for qualified nuclear-supply-chain manufacturers to outpace available capacity, the events represent an efficient tool for broadening supplier pipelines beyond the Washington, D.C., region. Continue reading at Small Business Administration.
