There will be a small business workshop at the Demopolis Civic Center on Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop is free, and lunch will be provided at 11:30 a.m.

Sessions throughout the day will provide local business owners networking opportunities with participating agencies. Participants will receive one-on-one certification and bidder’s list requirement information.

The workshop will also feature an overview of the state of Alabama’s economy and presentations from agencies including the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alabama Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Alabama Power Company.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the University of West Alabama’s Small Business Development Center and the office of U.S. Rep. Artur Davis.

“We have had a tremendous response,” said Audry Haskins, the community services representative for Davis’s office. “We calculated the availability of 150 people, and we actually have 165 registered, and these people are coming from all over the state. It’s amazing.

“Our office pulled in state and federal agencies that will receive federal stimulus money. The idea is to put these state and federal agencies together with small business owners and industrial leaders so they can do business when the stimulus money is released next month.”

Davis was scheduled to appear at the workshop, but will not be able to attend due to a death in the family. New district director Frank Adams has been chosen to speak in his place.