MOB Advocacy Brings Voice of Small Business and Startup to National Project to Strengthen State Government

Online, February 1, 2014 (Newswire.com) - MOB Advocacy, a state and local government relations firm based in Fairfax, Virginia announced today it has joined the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) new Foundation for State Legislatures (FSL) Partners Project, Leveraging IT Investments to Strengthen Government. MOB Advocacy will use its role to raise awareness of the innovative products and services small business and startups offer to state governments to strengthen services to citizens, improve efficiency and security, and fight fraud and abuse.

Small businesses and startups are developing new technologies every day that can help state governments to strengthen services to citizens and improve operations. Through MOB Advocacy's participation, small businesses and startups will be able to demonstrate how their products and services can enhance decision-making and customer service based on business intelligence and effective data management, strengthen IT procurement, implement advancements in securing government data and systems, and improve IT governance and management.

MOB Advocacy is excited to bring the voice of small business and startups to this project. "One of the main reasons I started this MOB Advocacy was to ensure small businesses and startups had a seat at the table during important policy discussions," said Michael O'Brien, founder and principal of MOB Advocacy. "This is a great opportunity to showcase the innovative solutions small businesses and startups have available for state government, to provide a platform to tell their great stories to state leaders, and to also address some of the major challenges startups and small business face, such as procurement reform."

Michael is also excited to be working with the other private-sector partners who are part of this project. "ESRI, Hewlett-Packard and SAS are leaders in the IT industry. But they were startups and small businesses at one point," said Michael. "I think there is a lot that current small businesses and startups can learn from these companies, but I think they can also teach them a thing or two."

The year-long project is launching in January, but it is not too late to get involved. Over the next two months, MOB Advocacy will be forming of coalition of small businesses and startups that are interested in participating in this and other projects. In February, MOB Advocacy will convene an advisory committee to provide leadership for this and other potential projects. "I think a strong coalition has the potential to have a powerful, positive impact on how states look at small business and startups to solve their most pressing challenges." Michael said. "I work with great companies every day, I know the small business and start up community will be up to the task."

For more information or to get involved with the coalition, please visit the MOB Advocacy website at www.mob-advocacy.com.