More than 200 local or businesses and minority-owned firms were expected to attend a Monday evening forum at National Harbor to learn about opportunities from plumbing to car detailing at the Prince George’s County site.

“[Monday] is all about developing a relationship with these companies and figuring out what companies will be best suited for what jobs,” said Rocell Viniard, a vice president and director of marketing for National Harbor.

National Harbor is the Peterson Companies’ $2 billion hotel, office, residential and retail project along the Potomac River just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. A portion of the 300-acre project is slated to open in 2008.

“What we are doing … is to really reach out to Prince George’s County and the other local areas to talk about the opportunities that will become available in the very near future as we start to open the property,” Viniard said.

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The company planned to discuss opportunities for painters, electricians, janitors, landscapers and others at the forum.

“It’s not that often that you as a small-business owner have an opportunity to be on the ground level of something that is potentially really big,” said Glen Bell, of Bell’s Personal Touch Mobile Auto Detailing, who planned to attend the forum.

Viniard said businesses would have the chance to fill out applications. “Once we have that, as we have a need that arises we will then know who to contact and we'll identify those companies,” she said.

Viniard said Peterson could hire some companies to do work prior to opening the site in April.

Peterson hopes to award at least 30 percent, but no less than 20 percent, of all its contracts to local and/or minority business.

Viniard also told The Examiner that although Peterson hasn’t announced any of the companies that will occupy the retail and entertainment space, “everything is on schedule.” Peterson thought it would announce some tenants earlier, Viniard said, but is waiting until final leases are signed.

“Most retailers take 60 to 90 days to build out,” Viniard said. “So we are fine. If I didn't announce until January a retailer, they could be open by April.”

dfowler@dcexaminer.com