MOU encourages women-owned firms to participate in California's high-speed rail project

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding that will ensure women-owned construction firms and female construction executives are "aware of and prepared for" the project's job opportunities.

CHSRA Chairman Dan Richard and WCOE President Lee Cunningham signed the MOU in a ceremony held during the WCOE National Conference in Washington, D.C., according to a press release issued by both organizations.

The agreement outlines the authority's and WCOE's joint outreach efforts to strengthen and expand the use of women-owned firms and female executives while the high-speed rail system is built between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"Our sole mission is to level the playing field for women contractors and female construction executives. Our partnership with the authority will allow us to do just that and open the door for opportunities for women on the largest infrastructure project in the nation," said Cunningham, who sits on the authority's Business Advisory Council and owns BT Metal Sales & Fabrication.