Aspiring defense contractors are in Fayetteville for this year's annual Defense and Economic Development Trade Show. Companies will be at Fayetteville Technical Community College to network with military and political figures and to see demonstrations of advances in combat equipment.
This year, federal sequestration cuts have brought questions from vendors about the level of military participation. Scott Dorney is executive director of the North Carolina Military Business Center. He says business are coming to this year's show looking to partner up.
"That's large business looking for small business partners..it's small businesses looking for large business partners and other small businesses to team with in order to compete successfully and win contracts and ultimately to grow jobs in North Carolina through federal contracting," Dorney says.
North Carolina is home to five military installations. Each will be represented at this trade show. U-S senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr are hosting the event.