Telephone: 212.367.2130
Facsimile: 212.644.9201
www.wbcnyc.org
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Volume I, Issue 27 - Week of July 6th, 2009
Small businesses can expect continued support and mentorship from larger corporations, even in this recession environment. New York Times highlights several national companies that are working to expand their network of small-business suppliers, initiating mentoring programs and otherwise working to engage small, minority and women-owned businesses in their respective markets.
At the same time, North Carolina has recently unveiled its Statewide Uniform Certification program, designed to streamline the certification process for minority-, women- and disabled-owned businesses. The HUB (historically underutilized businesses) certification is an accomplishment in removing the “red tape” associated with MWBE certification.
Those of you who would like to learn about local opportunities and organizations committed to working with MWBEs have a chance to attend the upcoming Procurement Opportunity Luncheon, held on July 9th and featuring an address by Michael Garner, the Chief Diversity Officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about doing business with the MTA!
More next week...
Renee
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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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Silverstein Threatens Arbitration on WTC Talks
7/06/2009 - Crain's New York
World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein is threatening to take his fight with the Port Authority of New York &New Jersey to arbitration in an effort to break the impasse over redevelopment of the site.
On Monday, Mr. Silverstein sent the Port Authority a "notice of dispute," starting the clock on a process which requires the developer and the agency to reach a resolution within 10 business days or go to binding arbitration. |
City Council OKs Fordham's Lincoln Center Expansion
6/30/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
The New York City Council, as expected, on Tuesday voted to approve Fordham University's expansion plan which will add six new buildings to its Lincoln Center campus.
The vote was practically guaranteed since earlier this month Gale Brewer, D-Manhattan, who represents the Upper West side neighborhood, extracted some concessions from the school to win her support. She negotiated to reduce the heights of the buildings that Fordham will erect. She also got the school to agree to build a public atrium on Columbus Avenue and an escalator to lift people to elevated public open space. The full council typically votes to support the member who represented the district with proposed project.
State's Top Court Will Hear Appeal Against Atlantic Yards
6/30/2009 - Source: The New York TImes
New York's highest court has agreed to hear a case challenging the state's use of eminent domain on behalf of the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.
The decision by the top court, the Court of Appeals, to hear arguments in October came as something of a surprise to the project's developer, Bruce C. Ratner, who had expected a clear path after a lower court rejected the case in a unanimous decision in May. |
A Guiding Hand From Big Business to Small
7/1/2009 - Source: New York Times
For a small business, especially in the current weak economy, a contract to supply goods or services to a large corporation can be a welcome lifeline. Some big companies, meanwhile, are seeking to expand their network of small suppliers.
Ratner Promises Atlantic Yards Arena Redesign
7/2/2009 - Source: Crain's New York
Bruce Ratner, chief executive of Forest City Ratner, has told senior members of the Bloomberg administration that the Atlantic Yards basketball arena renderings leaked to the media last month were premature and do not reflect his intentions for the project, city sources say. While Mr. Ratner is said to have reaffirmed his commitment to a "world-class" design, he faces the challenge of improving it without substantially raising the cost.
Frank Gehry had designed a $1 billion arena that impressed architecture critics but proved unaffordable when the economy tanked and credit markets froze. Missouri-based architectural firm Ellerbe Becket was brought in and proposed a $772 million arena that resembled an airplane hangar. To say that the design did not meet the expectations of Amanda Burden, chairwoman of the City Planning Commission, would be a vast understatement.
Contractors Fined for Women, Minority Hiring Failures
6/29/2009 - Chicago Sun Times
Castle Construction Co. -- a clout-heavy firm charged with cheating minority subcontractors on city projects -- has also had problems meeting hiring goals set by Mayor Daley's Public Building Commission.
Over the years, the commission has withheld more than $680,000 as "liquidated damages" from Castle for failing to hire enough women, minorities and Chicagoans as laborers, apprentices and journeymen to build five police stations, a library and a school. |
Questions Remain for Divvying up City Projects
6/29/2009 - New Orleans City Business
Black business leaders welcome a move by the City Council to secure a place at the table for minority-owned businesses. But with no way to enforce the new law, its overall effectiveness remains in doubt.
Council President Arnie Fielkow said an ordinance the council unanimously passed June 18 effectively puts into law an executive order Mayor C. Ray Nagin issued in 2006 setting local participation goals for city-funded projects.
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North Carolina Simplifies HUB Certification
6/30/2009 - Source: Triangle Business Journal
North Carolina will streamline the process for businesses looking to be certified as HUB, historically underutilized, businesses.
The Statewide Uniform Certification program will go live Wednesday, reducing redundancy in certifying minority-, disabled- and women-owned businesses, as well as creating a database of those businesses. Currently, businesses seeking such designations have to go through several government bureaucracies to be certified. |
SBA Offers Floor Plan Financing
7/1/2009 - Source: South Florida Business Journal
As of July 1, car, RV and other dealerships can apply for SBA-guaranteed floor plan financing – loans created to make it easier for them to borrow against their inventory and increase cash flow.
The new pilot program was created to help increase access to capital and technical assistance to small business, according to a news release.
The National Minority Business Council, Inc. (NMBC) "Procurement Opportunity Luncheon"
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A Membership Organization of Minority and Women Business Owners.
120 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, New York 10271
Phone: 212-693-5050 Fax: 212-693-5048
E-mail: nmbc@msn.com | www.nmbc.org | www.nmbcglobal.org
You are cordially invited to attend NMBC’s
"Procurement Opportunity Luncheon"©
Thursday, July 9, 2009
12:00 NOON – 2:00 P.M
At the Bank of New York Mellon
1 Wall St, New York, NY (80 Broadway Entrance)
NMBC Member: $30 Non-member: $35
** Registration Is Required **
In Advance
Guest Speaker
Mr. Michael J. Garner
MTA, Chief Diversity Officer
Please come and hear Mr. Garner, Chief Diversity Officer for the MTA, discuss Procurement Opportunities with the MTA for 2009-2010. Mr. Garner will also discuss how MWBE'S can get certified by the MTA to be eligible to bid on upcoming contracts.
Don't miss this opportunity to do business with the MTA!
Please click here to register.
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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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Sacks Communications, Inc.
