Telephone: 212.367.2130
Facsimile: 212.644.9201
www.wbcnyc.org
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Volume I, Issue 19 - Week of May 11th, 2009
The struggle over the World Trade Center continues this week, as plans to demolish the Deutche Bank building are once again delayed, the number of skyscrapers in the new design has been drastically diminished and developer Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties is challenging his agreement with the site’s owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
At the same time, the executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Elliot Sander, resigned on Thursday, May 7th, just after Governor Patterson signed a rescue plan for the agency.
Stay tuned.
Renée Sacks
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Renée Sacks, Ph.D.
Editor
rsacks@wbcnyc.org
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GET CERTIFIED
WBC can help you get certified with New York City Small Business Services. It’s an important first step to navigating procurement opportunities with the city and other public agencies. Contact WBC at 212.367.2130 or email rsacks@wbcnyc.org for more information. |
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2009 Small Business: Economic Opportunities
Topics:
Nationwide Meetings and Webcast: Stimulus Money - Strategies, Access and Policy
May 21, 2009
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Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) will host special National Instant Impact team meetings, focused on 2009 Small Business: Economic Opportunities. The meetings will help attendees understand federal government stimulus spending and will highlight how you and your company can navigate the stimulus package and find the money! The government just spent $787 billion to stimulate the economy - now you can participate. With a national webcast live from Chicago, and local speakers at your meeting on state level opportunities, it will be a must-attend meeting!
Don’t let the opportunity pass you by - prepare your company to succeed in today's economy!
Speakers will include:
Ann Sullivan, WIPP Government Relations
National webcast moderated by Susan Solovic, CEO, SBTV.com
A webcast option will be provided for meeting attendees to view the National Webcast portion of the event.
For more information please contact Oriana Camacho at ocamacho@wipp.org.
Visit us on the web at www.wipp.org.
WHEN:
May 21, 2009 |
WHERE:
Location varies by city. Please contact Oriana Camacho for more information. |
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WBC Goes to Washington 2009
Save the Date
June 9 & 10, 2009
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We are preparing for our annual visit to Washington, D.C. Please mark your calendars and set your travel plans. This is an opportunity to meet government officials who can make a difference in your business.
Women Builders Council members will attend the Building & Construction Trades Union Legislative Breakfast at the Washington Hilton. Members of the New York State congressional delegation will also attend this event, along with distinguished labor leaders.
QUESTIONS? Please contact Dasha Oganezov at WBC: 212.367.2130. Alternative Tel: 718.646.2700 x 102.
Register Here
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 9
Wednesday, June 10 |
WHERE:
Washington, D.C |
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M.T.A. Chief Resigns After Fare Deal
5/8/2009 - Source: New York Times
On the same day that Gov. David A. Paterson signed a rescue bill for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, its executive director resigned on Thursday to allow the governor to take the agency in "a different direction."
New Plans Should Be Derailed, Says Silver
5/4/2009 - Source: New York Post
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is considering scaling down funding for the MTA's big-ticket projects until the economy makes a full recovery, a source said yesterday.
"Maybe we should wait a few years before doing a full-blown capital plan to see how the economy is doing and see what the revenues are going to be like," the source said.
Senate Passes Metropolitan Transportation Authority Finance and Accountability Package
5/7/2009 - Source: Your Free Press
Faced with devastating cuts to services and fare increases, Senate bill S5451, sponsored by Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Brooklyn), passed Wednesday, May 6 bringing financial solvency and accountability to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The package closes a more than $2 billion operating deficit incurred by the MTA with a two-year $2.9 billion revenue stream covering operational costs and capital. It also puts in place measures to ensure that the public authority operates under the light of day, and incorporates sound accounting practices.
Paterson seen facing new challenges at the MTA
5/8/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
As he ousted Elliot Sander as chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday, Gov. David Paterson promised "a widespread cleanout and cleanup of the MTA" and to start getting it "working in an effective way."
Gov. Paterson Task Force Seeks To Create Opportunities For Minority and Women Financial Services Professionals
5/5/2009 - Source: readMedia, Inc.
Members of a state Task Force appointed by Gov. David A. Paterson heard from panels of financial service professionals about best practices in the industry for increasing the participation of minority and women-owned firms in providing a range of financial services to public authorities.
NY consumers' confidence edging up
5/5/2009 - Source: Business Review
Consumers in New York are getting more confident, according to the latest Siena Research Institute poll.
Consumer confidence rose 2.4 points in April. However, nationally, consumer confidence rose 4.6 points.
Bloomberg seeks end to stalemate at Ground Zero
5/8/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday invited developer Larry Silverstein and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executives to meet with him and other elected officials to discuss how to end the stalemate that threatens to jeopardize progress on rebuilding the World Trade Center site.
Mayor Bloomberg plans WTC summit next week to smooth fighting over troubled site
5/9/2009 - Source: Daily News
The warring parties whose squabbling has stalled the rebuilding of Ground Zero will attend a peace summit with Mayor Bloomberg next week.
Gov. Paterson, Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward and developer Larry Silverstein will attend the Gracie Mansion meeting.
Ground Zero Saga Continues
5/8/2009 - Source: New York Times
There have been encouraging signs of progress recently at the site of the former World Trade Center. But now the developer, Larry Silverstein, is challenging his agreement with the site's owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, over who pays going forward, what is built and when it gets completed.
Port Authority wants to dump three of five proposed skyscrapers for WTC site
5/11/2009 - Source: Daily News
The incredible shrinking World Trade Center will be cut back from five iconic skyscrapers to just two signature towers under a new Port Authority plan, the Daily News has learned.
Bludgeoned by recession and a war with developer Larry Silverstein, the Port Authority is proposing halving the office space it will build at Ground Zero - from 10 million square feet to 5 million, sources familiar with the plan say.
Post-9/11 Realities Warp a Soaring Design
5/10/2009 - Source: New York Times
When Santiago Calatrava unveiled his design for a luminous glass-and-steel transportation hub for ground zero in January 2004, government officials touted it as a 21st-century version of Grand Central Terminal - one of the few bright spots in a development plan crippled by politics, petty self-interests and the weight of the site's history.
An electrical fire has again delayed the Deutsche Bank tower's demolition by at least three months
5/7/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
The long-delayed project of dismantling a toxic tower across from ground zero has fallen behind schedule again because of an electrical fire.
The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. says the small fire in a power distribution box stopped work for most of April at the former Deutsche Bank tower. Contractors now say it will be January 2010 when the tower is completely dismantled, about three months behind its latest schedule. |
New York Rates Poorly in Roads Report
5/8/2009 - Source: New York Times
Just about the only thing that makes New York's deteriorating roads look good? The neighbors. A nationwide study of surface conditions on major roads and highways has given particularly low marks to New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Those states had among the lowest percentage of roads classified as in good shape, ranking 43rd, 44th and 50th, respectively.
Recession Twists State's Economic Development Arm
5/5/2009 - Source: New York Observer
In February, eight months after M&T Bank chief executive Bob Wilmers was installed as chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation, the state’s main economic development agency, a new organizational structure was announced in a staff memo.
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Maryland trying to open up road projects to more minority firms
5/8/2009 - Source: Baltimore Business Journal
The Maryland Department of Transportation is opening federal stimulus-backed road and bridge projects to more minority-owned firms through fast-tracked temporary policy changes it could soon make permanent.
Companies applying for new or updated minority status may be able to speed through the process faster. And suppliers of materials like steel or paint will become eligible to fully count toward general contractors’ minority inclusion goals on the projects. Previously, suppliers could only make up a portion of the minority firms hired.
New Orleans Councilmember Stacy Head considers excluding felons from city contracts
5/5/2009 - Source: New Orleans City Business
Currently under state and city law, 10 percent of the total value of all city professional services contracts must be set aside for small business. Of that 10 percent, at least another 10 percent must be awarded to socially and economically disadvantaged businesses and at least another 10 percent be awarded to women-owned businesses. Additionally, the city has set its own goals for both construction and professional services contracts. Specifically, the city mandates that 20 percent of the total contract amount available each year be awarded to minority-owned firms and that 5 percent be awarded to women-owned enterprises.
Union Electrical Contractors Launch New Electronic Sustainability Publication
The New York City Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors has launched a new monthly electronic publication: NECA New York Green. It’s an excellent resource for the latest news about environmental responsibility, sustainability, alternative energy and more.
To view the publication and to subscribe, follow this link.
Overwhelmed With Managing Insurance Certificates?
If you are managing certificates of insurance for your firm or institution, this excellent certificate of insurance management system will free you from paperwork and incorrect documents. Quickly accept,
reject, print or download your COIs from the online system. Share this data within your office or between offices instantly, while maintaining a centralized storage location for all of your COIs.
CertFocus records all certificate status changes and adds them to your COIs.
Visit: www.certfocusinfo.com.
New Worker Safety Campaign
Source: NYC Buildings
Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri joined Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Guillermo Linares, representatives from the city’s leading construction firms, industry unions and worker advocacy groups to announce the launch of a citywide worker safety campaign to encourage construction workers to properly wear their safety harnesses at all times while working at a construction site. Thousands of posters, banners and brochures - in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Hindi and Urdu - are being distributed throughout the city, including high-rise construction sites, designated worker centers, union halls, community centers, telephone kiosks, and the Buildings Department’s five borough offices. |
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OGS Announces Upcoming Construction Opportunities
4/01/2009 - Source: New York State Office of General Services
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner John C. Egan today announced the bidding for 22 construction contracts representing more than $5.9 million in construction, providing work in nine counties of New York.
Make the Connection. The World Trade Center Business Resource Center is where M/W/SBEs can access an array of valuable business services, including critical information on upcoming contract opportunities with WTC redevelopment projects.
WHEN:
Monday through Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
WHERE:
115 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10006 |
See Current Bid Opportunities from DASNY |
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