The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that 52 minority-, women-owned, disadvantaged and small business contractors graduated from the agency’s Small Business Development Program, reflecting backgrounds as diverse as the city itself.  The graduating firms completed a comprehensive 14-session curriculum designed to help these emerging businesses refine their technical and business management skills, with the ability to bid on prime MTA contractors for a period of up to four years. 

 

The MTA’s Small Business Development Program is an innovative initiative that offers minority, women-owned, emerging firms the unique opportunity to get access to capital, bonding, technical assistance, mentoring and the in-the-field training necessary to help their businesses learn, earn and grow.  This award-winning program is building a new generation of transportation and construction contractors.

 

“Our Small Business Development plan is a win-win for both the MTA and participating firms,” said Michael J. Garner, MTA Chief Diversity Officer. “The hard-working men and women in these firms have proven they have what it takes to successfully complete projects for the MTA. In turn, the MTA becomes even more inclusive, builds its pool of qualified, effective construction contractors, and small businesses will grow their portfolio of successful projects.”

 

in 2009, the MTA’s Department of Diversity and Civil rights unveiled its Small Business Mentoring Program to provide a supportive framework to help eligible emerging businesses, including Certified Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business enterprises (MWDBEs), establish stable, long-term business relationships with the agency.  Since its inception, the program has graduated 241 and awarded nearly $400 million in contracts to small businesses, fueling a new generation of talent and helping businesses grow.   

 

For state funded projects, the Small Business Mentoring Program comprises two tiers: Mentor (Tier 1), and Graduate Mentor (Tier 2).  Federally-funded projects are awarded in the Small Business Federal Program (SBFP). Tier 1 firms can complete for contracts of up to one million dollars, and with more training and experience, Tier 2 and federal program firms can compete for contracts of up to $3 million.

 

In July, Governor Andrew.Cuomo signed a law, Article 15A, reauthorizing the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) program for five more years, ensuring ongoing and meaningful participation of these firms in contracted State projects. The reauthorization of the law includes enhancements that will enable even more MWBEs to participate in and benefit from the program.  In addition, in August 2019, due to legislative actions in Albany, the MTA’s Small Business Development Program was extended for another 10 years to December 31, 2029.

 

Most of the graduating firms have grown significantly since being prequalified into the program over four years ago, some by over $1 million in revenue. Graduates have received 452 bid opportunities, winning 67 awards totaling over $92 million. Now that the firms have graduated from the program, they are in a better position to compete for contracting opportunities within the MTA.