FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Small Business Sees Success in Bidding on Los Angeles Community College District Construction Projects

Small Glendale-business is awarded a $2 million contract to provide
construction services at Pierce College in Woodland Hills

February 16, 2007 (LOS ANGELES) For one small business in Glendale, bidding on projects to help the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) rebuild and modernize its nine college campuses has been a real success story.  The LACCD announced today that its Board of Trustees awarded Kahromic Contracting Inc., a small and minority-owned business based in Glendale, Calif. a $2,380,000 contract to provide construction services at Pierce College to renovate its Campus Center.  Since January 2004, Kahromic has received more than $6.7 million in contracts on LACCD construction-related projects.
 
"We’re very pleased when a previous contractor comes back to LACCD for more business,” said Kelly G. Candaele, member of the LACCD's Board of Trustees.  "This contract shows the importance we place on making sure that small and local businesses are part of this historic process to modernize the Los Angeles Community Colleges.  We are not only accomplishing our main goal of providing better campuses for our students and college communities, but also giving back by keeping contract dollars local."

The construction contract awarded to Kahromic is the result of formal competitive bidding, and is funded by the LACCD's Proposition A/AA Bond program, the $2.2 billion bond measures overwhelmingly approved by Los Angeles voters in 2001 and 2003.  A portion of the contract is also funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Colleges’ Board of Trustees authorized the construction contract on January 24.  Kahromic Contracting will provide general construction services for Pierce College's Campus Center to renovate the former book store space.  The project consists of structural renovations, HAZMAT abatement, upgrades to the building's fire resistance, disabled accessibility, toilet rooms, data and communications systems, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. 

Since the Proposition A/AA Bond Program's inception in 2001, the LACCD has contracted 85 percent of the construction program's work to local and small businesses.  Currently, Kahromic Contracting is providing construction services for the renovation of the Heldman Learning Resource Center at West Los Angeles College in Culver City, Calif.  Kahromic was awarded that contract by the LACCD's Board of Trustees on December 13, 2006.

"The Los Angeles Community College District's construction projects from the Proposition A/AA Bond Program have provided my company and workers with great opportunities where we can tangibly see our work making a difference in the community," said Vartkes Tomassian, president of Kahromic Contracting, Inc.

The Los Angeles Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the country and has embarked on a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its nine colleges.   Companies interested in participating in this program are encouraged to contact Donetta Pickett at DPickettAssoc@aol.com, and to visit www.PropositionA.org and click on “Doing Business with Us.”

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