advertisement

---

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently awarded the first contract under its new Small Business Mentoring Program, which is designed to help small businesses win MTA construction contracts. The authority contracted Brooklyn construction firm Arch Builders & Developers Inc. to replace a deteriorated subway canopy at MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) Junius Street Station.

Created in June by the New York state legislature, the program matches emerging small businesses with larger construction management firm TDX Construction Corp. The goal: to transfer knowledge from TDX to other firms that will enable participants to become regular MTA contractors and subcontractors.

The program also includes classroom construction training and field work by MTA staff members, access to working capital loans provided by Carver Federal Savings Bank and bonding support.

To date, 102 construction firms have approached MTA about participating in the program. The authority currently is soliciting bids on three additional contracts under the Small Business Mentoring Program: a station improvement project at MTA Metro-North Railroad’s Port Jervis station, brick and stone repointing at the RFK Bridge, and a stairway canopy replacement at NYCT’s Van Siclen Avenue station