Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Firms Get a Leg Up
The College of Southern Maryland is building a bridge between Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms with the skills to perform contract jobs and their ability to get contracts for highway construction projects. The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Business Development Accelerator Program, or BDAP, helps firms remove the blocks to successful bids through training, techniques, and tools to run a successful business.
The Federal Highway Administration is funding the initiative, to be administered by the Maryland State Highway Administration.
CSM will implement the program with the Maryland SHA, in partnership with Maryland community colleges and Maryland Small Business Development Centers across the state. CSM and SBDC will use classroom and virtual training sessions, mentoring, access to subject matter experts, and relationship building.
“In their development, many DBE firms focus almost exclusively on how to do the job, while not paying attention to what they need to compete for those jobs,” said SHA Administrator Greg C. Johnson. “Whether it’s bonding requirements, marketing, or accounting 101, these business management skills can mean the difference between success and failure. BDAP will address those issues to each individual business.”
“CSM, along with its partners, will support SHA’s goal of promoting economic and business development in Maryland by working with DBE firms that have had limited success in obtaining work on highway construction projects,” said CSM’s Vice President of Continuing Education and Workforce Development Dr. Daniel Mosser.
The goal of the program is to help 25 to 40 underutilized businesses that are certified in Maryland and involved in construction and related services. The program will include information on business prospects, available resources, and how to position the business to win federal, state, and local government contracts and opportunities.
BDAP provides personalized consultation, training, and technical assistance based on the needs of the owners of construction-focused businesses, at no cost to DBE. Companies will be able to access proven financial management strategies and loan packaging assistance; support with developing marketing plans, capabilities statements, pricing, and promotional strategies; and resources and information to help acquire technical skills needed to understand and navigate the sometimes cumbersome procurement and contracting process.
“The partnership between CSM, the state’s community colleges, the Maryland Small Business Development Center and SHA builds upon the federal and state investments made in Maryland and leverages the existing capacity of those resources best positioned to provide a comprehensive statewide service delivery,” said SBDC’s Southern Region Director Ellen Flowers-Field.
To learn more about the SHA’s BDAP and how to get enrolled, firms should contact Outreach Coordinator Ann Frank at 301-539-4688.
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