Strategic Firm Helps Small Businesses Find Federal Dollars

By Camille Q. Solberg

How do companies participate in this economic recovery? When faced with having to raise capital to support a small business a bank was the traditional source. More and more companies are turning to government resources. For many the prospect is overwhelming unless you turn to experts with access that know how to point you in the right direction. Companies such as Corporate Political Strategies, LLC, (CPS) based in Washington D.C., might just be the answer for a small business trying to get assistance to stay strong in a struggling economy.

CPS has a proven track record of engineering, corporate, communications, community, and political affairs successes across the U.S. Each partner has executive business, political campaign and senior government experience, which makes financial and political access their core competencies and culture. “We were looking to use what we have learned, both from working in politics and working in at the highest levels of government and our commercial experience and the inner relations between commerce, politics and government. We knew there were a lot of businesses, Hispanic and other ethnic communities that were looking to really understand how this system operates and that is how we decided to structure ourselves and brand our company,” stated Leonard Rodriguez a partner with CPS. “Politics, commerce and government are tremendously interrelated,” Mr. Rodriguez added.

“We created a company that allowed small businesses and minority owned companies the opportunity to participate in government subcontracting. In addition to this service, we provide government relations, media strategy, fundraising for campaigns,” added Noe Garcia , Senior Partner of CPS.

With more than 12 years of policy, communications and political experience, Noe Garcia III, has managed key financial initiatives at the U.S. Department of Treasury, The White Ho use and the U.S. Senate as a policy and political advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury, the President of the United States and the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate.
His policy background and position in the Senate as a principal negotiator on issues including trade, his role as a political advisor to the President on immigration, and his financial role gained at the U.S. Department of Treasury provide him with unique insight into the internal workings of the U.S. Senate, Administration and financial industries. His experience also includes financial market policy, giving him a unique and high-level perspective on financial barriers and capital market access. Garcia also played a significant role in the last two Presidential elections, was named one of Hispanic Business Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Hispanics."

“What people don’t realize is that the government is the largest consumer in the world. People don’t realize that the government is a company essentially. It’s a consumer of goods and service You have to meet certain criteria to do business with the government. A lot of companies don’t realize that there are a lot of laws out there that are written so that small businesses can actually be hired by the government to provide a service or a good. This is important to know, especially in these tough economic times. Minority firms need to go out there and make sure that they are knocking on the right doors,” explained Garcia.

Mr. Garcia said that TARP (The Treasury Assistance Relief Program) spent 350 billion dollars and none of those dollars were granted to a minority firm. Minority firms need to meet certain criteria but it is not an impossible task to qualify for federal dollars. CPS reviews a company and their services and assesses the possible funding options. “There are definitely opportunities out there. You have to know how the system works,” added Mr. Garcia.

Their company has represented law firms, IT firms, construction companies, health care, housing, financial institutions and security firms. One example given by Mr. Garcia is how they have helped a technology firm. “This technology firm has less than a 100 employees. This firm buys used computer servers and upgrades them. Essentially, the government is always looking for technologies and companies with specific expertise. What we do is that we go out there and find contracts for them,” continued, Mr. Garcia.

CPS has competed for many government contracts and won them for their clients. According to CPS, to be effective you have to consistently give clients the internal political design and apparatus to increase their money and influence across commerce, politics and government. “We have been very successful in the little time that we have been running our company,” said Garcia. They believe that their insight brings them into the forefront.

The other partner is Leonard Brennan Rodriguez. His background gives him a keen view of the culture and dynamic between business and politics. From an award-winning author and publisher to White House Advisor and corporate and campaign consultant, Mr. Rodriguez has excelled as a business entrepreneur, government official and political strategist. He has been named as of the country’s “Most Influential Hispanics,” by Hispanic Business and Poder Magazine and profiled in Hispanic Magazine.


For information, advisory fees and products contact Corporate Political Strategies, LLC. They operates in Washington D.C., Houston and San Antonio and can be reached by calling 202-403-1137 or e-mailing corporate-advice@corporatepolitical.com or
politcal-advice@corpoartepolitcal.com. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Solberg-Quiros is a nationally published columnist and Hispanic activist. She resides in New London, Wisconsin.