Michigan Print Shop Wins NRC Contract Via SBA Matchmaking Expo
A family-owned Kalamazoo printer landed a federal contract after connecting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at an SBA expo in Detroit.
A father-and-son print shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, secured a federal procurement award from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a chance meeting at the Small Business Administration's Supplier Matchmaking Expo in Detroit, the SBA announced. RJ's Printing will supply event signage, visual displays, and supply chain materials to support the NRC's external engagement and outreach activities.
The connection came when the family team approached the NRC's booth on the expo floor. Anthony Briggs, the NRC's Chief Sourcing Officer for Small Business and Supply Chain Optimization, said the duo presented design samples and explained how their work supports domestic reindustrialization in Michigan. The father had previously worked at the company as an employee before acquiring it outright — a detail Briggs called "a living example of the American dream."
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Briggs noted that the business had never considered the NRC as a potential customer simply because they were unaware the agency existed. That gap, he said, underscored the value of direct industry engagement. The NRC required new materials after adopting a revised agency logo and needed duplicate sets to staff simultaneous events at multiple locations. The contract covers table throws, display banners highlighting procurement opportunities, QR-code stickers, and design services, with potential for follow-on orders.
The SBA hosted four Supplier Matchmaking Expos in 2026 — in Charlotte, Detroit, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. — drawing more than 2,600 attendees and generating over 1,400 individual matchmaking meetings. The NRC participated as a buyer at the Detroit, Phoenix, and Washington events, using the format to identify suppliers and strengthen the broader nuclear supply chain.
Briggs said the single expo compressed a vetting process that would otherwise have consumed days of staff time into a few focused hours. The NRC is also working to connect with small businesses bridging the gap between standard quality certifications such as ISO 9001 and nuclear-specific requirements under NQA-1. Continue reading at Small Business Administration.
