Los Angeles Small Businesses Turn out for Event with Congressmember Bass and Bonding Education Program

Last week the Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) hosted two major events in Los Angeles aimed at helping the small business community achieve access to capital and contracting opportunities.

OSDBU Director Brandon Neal, Denise Hunter, President & COO FAME Assistance Corp., Kerman Maddox, Managing Partner Dakota Communications	Conference Audience

On July 21st, OSDBU and the office of Congress member Karen Bass hosted Los Angeles Small Business Day. This event featured remarks from Congressmember Bass and OSDBU Director Brandon Neal and panels on “Access to Capital” and “How to Contract with the Government.” In addition, an exhibit hall hosted one-on-one opportunities with representatives from agencies such as Caltrans, US Dept. of Commerce, Los Angeles International Airport, LA Metro, and the Port of Los Angeles. Over 250 people attended the half day event held at FAME Assistance Corporation downtown.

“Southern California has so many transportation opportunities for small businesses, and DOT wants to make sure those businesses have the contracting, financial, and technical assistance they need to compete,” said OSDBU Director Brandon Neal during the event.

Earlier in the week the Department of Transportation’s Bonding Education Program (BEP) kicked off at the Los Angeles Metro Water District. 41 small businesses signed up to participate in the program, which will run until the end of August.

OSDBU Director Brandon Neal Speaking to participants	Conference Exhibit Hall

The BEP is a partnership with the Surety and Fidelity Association of America and OSDBU, which is designed to help more small businesses become bond-ready and better able to compete for transportation contracts. The BEP consists of an educational workshop component and a bond readiness component. The educational workshops include a curriculum designed to help small businesses improve their operations in order to become bonded or to increase their bonding capacity. The bond readiness component consists of one-on-one meetings with local surety representatives to assemble materials necessary to complete the bond process.