Small Business Office to open doors Published Aug. 13, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78 ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Office of Small Business Programs is now open for business in a new building. The office will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday at its new digs, the renovated and expanded former visitor's center. Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer will officiate at the ceremony. Fred Anderson, an analyst in the office, said the primary purpose of the move is to have the Small Business Office in a location that can better serve its customers - businesses that want to work with Robins. The new location allows representatives of those businesses to come to the office without having to gain base access. "The whole purpose is we are more accessible," Mr. Anderson said. Because of the close relationships the office has among the small business community, state and local governments, Robins has awarded $438 million in contracts to small businesses, including $298 million in contracts to small disadvantaged businesses, woman-owned businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses during the first 10 months of this fiscal year. The office had been in Bldg. 208, which was within walking distance of the old main gate and visitor's center. But once they were moved, sponsoring customers became more problematic, Mr. Anderson said. Air Force Reserve Command wanted Bldg. 208, Mr. Anderson said, so when leaders there heard about their problem they offered to pay for renovation of the old visitor center in exchange for AFRC getting Bldg. 208. APM was the contractor for the renovation and construction project. The 2,800 square-foot project cost approximately $750,000.