Contractors Meet Oct. 7

Minority, women and emerging small businesses involved in construction contracting can attend a meeting next week to find out about upcoming projects looking for competitive bids in their fields.
The Community Coalition for Contracts and Jobs meets Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. at the Central Area Motivation Program at 722 18th Avenue in Central Seattle.
"What's important is the fact that both the city of Seattle and the WSDOT has agreed to partner with the school district and the regional small business development program," said African American Chamber of Commerce President Eddie Rye Jr. "People will get an idea of what exactly opportunities are coming up and also information about how to be a better entrepreneur and a better contractor with the utilization of the small business development program."
The goal of CCCJ is to assist and advocate for equity in contract opportunities and jobs for the African American Community that are funded by our tax dollars and our consumer dollars.
"Whether you are in construction or any other business, you can be in the position of knowing how to invoice, knowing how to do business with the city, knowing how to do business with WSDOT, knowing how to do business with Sound Transit, and knowing how to do business with the Port of Seattle," Rye said. "They also will do 'small work' as well, so smaller contractors can also get information about the smaller contracts as well as subcontracting opportunities."
Bobby Forch, program manager of the Seattle Department of Transportation and Jim Medina, manager of the External Civil Rights Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation are on the agenda to discuss the upcoming multi-billion dollar projects that are in the process of being bid.
These projects include the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Mercer Street, Highway 520 and a number of other projects that are in the process of being bid in the city of Seattle and the Puget Sound area.
Projects that are funded with Federal Highway Administration dollars have goals for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation.
Information on the Regional Small Business Development Program is available by calling 206-353-5770.