State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village) today held a Small Business Development Conference primarily aimed at helping Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) learn how to get certified, or if already certified, how to locate contracting opportunities, funding and other resources. Some 60 people attended the event which took place at the Crowne Plaza JFK Hotel in Jamaica.
With major construction projects under way such as the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport and more coming in the future like the revamp of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, it is important to strike while the iron is hot. That was a major point Senator Sanders focused on as he addressed the crowd. “In the midst of water, only a fool is thirsty,” he said, quoting Bob Marley.
“I would encourage you to get yourself together and get yourself ready,” Sanders continued. “These opportunities are way too big not to be informed, not to be aware and not to be ready. The opportunity of a lifetime is limited by the lifetime of the opportunity.”
While the entirety of the panel of experts at the event advised those who qualify to become MWBE certified, several also agreed that doing so is just one of several steps necessary to achieving success and getting awarded a government contract. Other advice included developing a business plan, networking and building relationships, both with other businesses and organizations as well as banks.
“People do business with people they know,” said Walter Maxwell, Executive Director for External Affairs at NYC Small Business Services.
Maxwell also said that it is important to develop an understanding of the types of items and work that are in demand. NYC procures 11,500 different products and services, he noted.
Krystyna Pereyra, MWBE Outreach Coordinator for the NYC Department of Design and Construction, said the agency is currently and actively seeking plumbers, electricians and general contractors for its Build It Back Program, the citywide effort to recover housing after Hurricane Sandy.
There are a number of resources available to help MWBES, which were discussed at the event such as the city’s Small Business First program which helps reduce regulatory burdens and increase compliance. There is also the WE NYC program which helps women entrepreneurs with credit, financing, leadership and mentoring. The state’s Bridge to Success Program provides short-term loans to qualifying MWBEs while the Excelsior Growth Fund, an affiliate of the New York Business Development Corporation, provides rapid access to capital.
Economic development and job creation have long been among Senator Sanders’ top priorities. In the future, he plans to host training sessions on how to open a small business, with each event targeting a different group – women, men, youth and the formerly incarcerated. Sanders' mission to help businesses succeed and thrive began early in his political career.
During his time in the City Council, he became the father of MWBEs having authored Local Law 1 and Local Law 129, a type of affirmative action designed to enhance contracting opportunities for these businesses.
While in the Senate, Sanders has introduced legislation that would create a climate in which MWBEs could prosper, including granting city-certified MWBEs the same advantages as those certified by the state, such as by increasing the amount for which agencies may offer contracts to MWBEs without a formal competitive process from $100,000 to $200,000.
Sanders is also a member of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s MWBE advisory council which is charged with helping the city meet its goal of awarding more than $16 billion in contracts to these businesses over the next 10 years.
Senator Sanders would like to thank all of the agencies and organizations who participated in today's event. They are: The Association of Minority Enterprises of New York (AMENY) NYC's Small Business Services, NYS Small Business Development Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, new York Business Development Corporation, Empire State Development Corporation, NYC Department of Design and Construction, Port Authority Office of Business Diversity and Civil Rights and JFK International Airport Chamber of Commerce. |
