Telephone: 212.367.2130
Facsimile: 212.644.9201
www.wbcnyc.org
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Volume I, Issue 24 - Week of June 15th, 2009
We have successfully completed our second annual legislative trip to Washington, DC. You can read all about our Capital adventures in Walter McCaffrey’s report below.
The next few weeks are providing ample opportunity for maximizing the Women Builders Council’s visibility. Thursday June 18th will be a day to be out and about, taking advantage of a multitude of networking opportunities like the New York Power Authority’s event we will be attending. Diversity: A Power Resource is a great program, meant to encourage effective collaboration between qualified minority- and women-owned suppliers and large buying organizations. On the same day, we will attend a BALCONY breakfast forum with Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward, as well as other esteemed speakers. Our multi-pronged network will also place us at the School Construction Authority’s Annual General Contractor and Subcontractor Marketing Forum, where MWLBEs will have the opportunity to meet with general contractors who have subcontracting opportunities.
ENERGY OPPORTUNITY!
On June 30th everyone has the opportunity to attend the Energy Efficiency and Green Technology Opportunities: Stimulus and Beyond. A first event of its type for MWLBEs, this forum will offer small businesses the opportunity to learn about opportunities, requirements and innovations available in the Energy market, both within public and private sectors. You can view the Energy website here: www.conferencecenterpresents.com/energyefficiency.
Renee Sacks
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Renée Sacks, Ph.D.
Editor
rsacks@wbcnyc.org
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The Washington Rat-a-Tat-Tat
This past week, Women Builders Council conducted its third annual visit to Capitol Hill. We were immediately struck by the dramatically different and faster pace of our national government.
The Obama administration is faced by a wide variety of economic challenges. The sense of urgency was evident in every meeting that WBC participated in.
This was very clear during our meeting with my old City Council colleague Adolfo Carrion, who is the new director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. Director Carrion has been working non-stop to create a stronger economic plan on behalf of President Obama. He brings his great talent and experience to bear on this new position.
Please click here to read whole article about Washington trip.
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Walter McCaffrey
Editorial Advisor
The McCaffrey Group, LTD
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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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Gov. Paterson's Fix for Economic Crisis: High-Tech Spending
6/8/2009 - Source: Daily News
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Gov. Paterson, gearing up for next year's election fight, will unveil his economic development priorities for a postrecession New York today, the Daily News has learned.
Paterson will propose driving more federal and state money toward energy, technology, and medical research and development. |
Little Progress is Seen in Talks on Ground Zero
6/8/2009 - Source: New York Times
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the developer Larry Silverstein remain deadlocked over construction of two giant office towers at ground zero, despite more than two weeks of high-level talks with state and city officials aimed at resolving the impasse.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who convened the sessions on May 21, had set a June 11 deadline for the parties to reach an agreement. But the talks have not brought Mr. Silverstein and the Port Authority any closer, according to officials on both sides.
2008 Building Boom Busted
6/10/2009 - Source: New York Post
The city was building on a solid base until this year.
Even as the economy began to crumble last year, the city's construction industry rumbled to record heights, with $31.8 billion spent on building -- a $1.3 billion increase over 2007, a study by the New York Building Congress found.
Increased spending fueled a bigger payroll, with 129,900 workers toiling at construction sites, up from 127,000 in 2007 and the fourth consecutive year of job growth in the construction industry.
City Council Passes Changes to SBE Program
6/10/2009 - Source: Business Courier
Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday adopted a series of recommendations to improve the city’s dismal minority spending record.
Issued by the OPEN Cincinnati task force, the recommendations call for the city to increase accountability, oversight and reporting in its small business enterprise program. The race-neutral program is designed to increase city spending with small businesses and firms owned by minorities and women. In recent years, the city’s spending with minority-owned firms, in particular, has fallen far below the city’s goals. |
More Firms Seek Certification as MWBEs to Get Stimulus Projects
6/10/2009 - Source: Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Activity at the state Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises is up significantly, and Cynthia Cooper, director of the agency, says there's no question that the federal stimulus package is the reason why.
Between April and June of 2008, 90 companies filed applications with the office to become M/WBE certified. This year, just from April 1 through June 4, 140 companies applied for certification, according to Cooper's office. That's a 55 percent hike, with 26 more days until month's end.
The Bank of New York Mellon to Be Honored for Diversity, Social Responsibility
6/9/2009 - Source: PR Newswire
Receives 2008 Corporate Diversity Award from the National Minority Business Council
The Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK) -- the global leader in asset management and securities servicing -- will be honored by the National Minority Business Council, Inc. (NMBC) for its commitment to diversity and social responsibility during the Council's 37th Anniversary Celebration event to be held on June 11, 2009.
Port Authority, Silverstein Still at Odds over WTC
6/10/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
A newly disclosed offer by a shopping mall company to pay for and build a retail complex at the World Trade Center site seems unlikely to help resolve the impasse between The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and developer Larry Silverstein over construction plans at Ground Zero
Is There Something in The Water At ESDC?
6/11/2009 - Source: Daily News
For the second time in less than a week, a top ESDC official has quit the Paterson administration.
This time, it's the corporation's chairman, Robert Wilmers, the Buffalo M&T Bank Corp. CEO, who was nominated by the governor just last summer in a move intended to curry favor with upstaters.
Wilmer's resignation from his unpaid post is effective tomorrow.
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Under Cover
6/12/2009 - Source: Downtown Express
Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been campaigning for nearly a year to shutter the state-city Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and transfer its functions - and money - to the city. Last week, when we asked Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver what he thought about the mayor's proposal, we expected him to repeat his staunch defense of the L.M.D.C. and its chairperson Avi Schick, a Silver ally.
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Chairman of Workers' Compensation Board Resigns
6/12/2009 - Source: New York Times
The chairman of New York State’s embattled workers’ compensation system is resigning, less than two years after he was appointed to bring change to a system long criticized for its ineffectiveness. Gov. David A. Paterson’s office said Friday that a search is under way for a replacement.
New York City and Other Large Cities to Share Data on Building Cranes
6/11/2009 - Source: New York Times
The Department of Buildings will share information about tower cranes with Chicago and Philadelphia in an effort to track equipment failures, manufacturers’ recalls, accidents and industry trends, officials said on Thursday.
States Failing At Stimulus Accountability
6/12/2009 - Source: The Huffington Post
Before taking office, President-elect Barack Obama promised that when it comes to stimulus spending, "every American will be able to hold Washington accountable for these decisions by going online to see how and where their tax dollars are being spent."
To date, that promise has yet to be realized.
Construction Spending Rose in April
6/9/2009 - Source: Business Review
U.S. construction spending in April totaled $969 billion, which was up 0.8 percent from March, reported Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, in his Data DIGest for last week. However, that total was down 11 percent compared with April 2008.
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Diversity a Power Resource
June 18, 2009
A goal of the Authority's Supplier Diversity Program is to encourage an effective collaboration between qualified minority- and women-owned suppliers and large buying organizations. The Purchasing Exchange is an exciting and effective event that has produced significant contacts and contracts.
For 19 years the Purchasing Exchange has provided an outstanding venue for suppliers to gather and exchange information and procurement opportunities with each other, and to pursue contract opportunities with purchasing representatives from NYPA, other utilities, trade associations, city and state agencies and authorities, and from corporate entities.
Please click here to download the registration form.
WHEN:
Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
WHERE:
123 Main Street - Jaguar Room (Main Lobby)
White Plains, NY 10601
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ROADS, BRIDGES, TUNNELS & FIBER
BALCONY Breakfast Forum with Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward
June 18, 2009
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Keynote Speaker:
CHRIS WARD, Executive Director, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Confirmed Panelists:
DR. JAMES MELIUS, Administrator, LECET,
Executive Board Member of BALCONY
SAMARA BAREND, Executive Director,
New York State Commission on State Asset Maximization
ROBERT LEDWITH, Business Manager, Financial Secretary/Treasurer of Local 46 Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers
BRIAN OSTERHOUT, Director of Business Development, MJ Engineering and Land Surveying, PC
CHRIS LEVENDOS, Executive Director of Operations, Verizon
STEPHEN McINNIS, Political Director, NYC District Council of Carpenters
Topics Will Include:
- An overview and capital plan of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Analysis of the infrastructure needs of New York State
- Update on the New York State Commission on State Asset Maximization
- Status update on the state-of-the-art technological infrastructure
For More Information Click Here
WHEN:
June 18, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
WHERE:
New York and Vicinity Carpenters Labor Management Corporation
395 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014 |
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The Future of New York City - Small Business
June 18, 2009
A don't-miss morning conference outlining specific New York City resources for your small business.
Opening Session:
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn on the importance of small business to New York's economy
Award Ceremony:
Crain's 2009 Top Entrepreneurs
What Government Can Do For You:
Series of presentations from key government agencies with programs to assist small businesses
Breakout Sessions:
Growing Revenues, Managing the Workforce
COST TO ATTEND:
$99 for individual ticket(s) if pre-registered by June 5; $119 thereafter.
$990 for table(s) of ten if pre-registered by June 5; $1,190 thereafter.
Click here for more information
WHEN:
Thursday, June 18, 2009 |
WHERE:
Crowne Plaza Times Square
1605 Broadway @ 49th Street
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SAVE THE DATE:
SCA Business Development's Annual General Contractor/Sub-Contractor Marketing Forum
June 18, 2009
Visit the Business Development Division
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WHEN:
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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WHERE:
DDC Atrium
30-30 Thomson Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101
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Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall & Council for Airport Opportunity (CAO) Invite You to the 8th Annual Job Fair
June 19, 2009
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ALL MUST ENTER BOROUGH HALL THROUGH THE ENTRANCE AT THE FRONT OF THE
BUILDING & MUST HAVE A VALID PHOTO I.D.
Employers at LaGuardia and JFK International Airports are recruiting candidates
interested in applying for positions such as:
Aircraft Mechanics, Ramp Service Agents, Aircraft Cleaners, Customer Service Agents, Ticket Agents, Passenger Service Agents, Flight Attendants, Freight Agents Drivers, Food Service Workers, Baggage Handlers, Pre-Board Screeners, Reservation Agents, Security Guards, Warehouse Workers
WHEN:
Friday, June 19th, 2009
10:00am - 3:00pm |
WHERE:
Queens Borough Hall
120-55 Queens Boulevard
2nd Floor, Conference Room 213
Kew Gardens, NY 11424 |
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The State of Minority and Women Businesses in New Jersey:
A Public Policy Forum
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Overview
As we approach the gubernatorial election, the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute
(NJPPRI) is hosting a series of public policy forums addressing issues that affect the African
American community and other minority communities. This panel discussion will explore the
current state of affairs for minority-owned and women-owned businesses in New Jersey, the
public policy challenges these firms face in contracting with New Jersey state, county, and local
government agencies, and what can be done to improve the overall landscape. NJPPRI, the
Greater Newark Business Development Consortium (GNBDC) and the Rutgers Center for Urban
Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CUEED) are hosting this session jointly. It will
take place immediately following GNBDC’s 5th Annual Opportunities and Awards Breakfast.
The transcript from the discussion will form the basis for a special journal issue on "Race and the
Law" to be produced by Rutgers Law School.
Click here to get more information.
WHEN:
Friday, June 19th, 2009
11:30am - 2:00pm (includes lunch) |
WHERE:
Rutgers-Newark, School of Law
123 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey |
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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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