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The Los Angeles Community College District Is Partnering with Valley Economic Development Corporation to Offer Assistance to Help Local, Small Businesses

Free boot camp-style classes are now available to local, small and emerging businesses interested in working on the $2.2 billion construction campaign to modernize the Los Angeles Community Colleges

July 19, 2007 (LOS ANGELES) Small and local businesses who have considered bidding on public contracts but are intimidated by the process, can get a big boost under a new program sponsored by the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) and the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC).  LACCD and the VEDC have announced that they will partner to provide free programs and classes aimed at helping prepare small, local and emerging businesses in Los Angeles County connect with the LACCD's many business opportunities for its $2.2 billion construction campaign. 

These programs and classes are structured as mini-boot camps for general contractors and sub-contractors interested in doing business with the LACCD on its many construction projects related to the Proposition A/AA Bond Program approved by Los Angeles voters in 2001 and 2003.  To date, the LACCD has contracted 86 percent of its construction program's work to local, small, emerging or disabled-veteran enterprise businesses.  Since the Bond Program's inception, the LACCD has approved contracts of more than $500 million dollars to these businesses, exceeding its goal of 28 percent participation.

“We look forward to this partnership with the VEDC to bring free assistance to small and emerging businesses,” said Sylvia Scott-Hayes, president of the LACCD Board of Trustees.  "It's exciting to work closely with local businesses to keep dollars in the community as we work together to modernize classrooms and teaching facilities for the nine Los Angeles Community Colleges."

The first four week program, "Entrepreneurial Preparation for Contractors," runs from July 18, 2007 to August 8 and includes one class each week that covers business plans, labor compliance, insurance, bonding, contracting and bidding, and statement of qualification.  The second three week program, "Access to Capital for Contractors" runs from September 13 to September 27 and will cover business finance, accounting and legal structure, financial statements, and loan options related to credit rating, bonding and budgeting.

"VEDC is very happy to enter into this new partnership with Los Angeles Community College District, and looks forward to assisting local small and minority business to access the many construction opportunities being created," said Roberto Barragan, president of VEDC.  "We look forward to the local business community participating in the millions of dollars of investment in our neighborhood community colleges."

Classes for both programs will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the VEDC's office at 5121 Van Nuys Blvd, 3rd Floor in Van Nuys.  Those interested in registering for classes should call 818-907-9922 or visit www.VEDC.org .  Contractors and other companies will also have the opportunity to learn more about LACCD and public agency business opportunities at the second annual California Construction Expo on August 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
           
The Los Angeles Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the country, educating more than 188,000 students at its nine colleges each year.  The LACCD is currently undertaking the largest public sector sustainable building effort in the United States as part of its construction and renovation program, funded by the Proposition A/AA Bond Program.  Companies interested in participating in this $2.2 billion renovation are encouraged to visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org and click on “Doing Business with Us.”  For information on the second annual California Construction Expo co-sponsored by the LACCD, visit www.CalConExpo.org.

VEDC is Los Angeles' largest non-profit business development corporation seeking for 30 years to revitalize communities and create jobs for deserving residents by being the leading provider of consulting, training, financing and workforce solutions to local businesses.  For information, call 1-800-304-1755.

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