Companies looking to do business with Northern Illinois University and other state agencies are invited to the Diversity Vendor Networking Fair, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom on the NIU campus in DeKalb. The event is intended to help new and existing suppliers better understand how to do business with NIU. In particular, it will focus on building pathways to partnership with companies owned and operated by minorities, persons with disabilities, women and veterans. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to become a certified minority-owned vendor with the state’s Business Enterprise Program and how to work with Illinois Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, which assist small businesses looking to enter the world of government contracting. Admission is free. To register for the NIU Diversity Vendor Networking Fair go to: go.niu.edu/supplier-registration