Turner School of Construction Mgmt & Pace SBDC Contractor Training Program Graduation

The Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) partnered with Turner Construction Company to host a third cohort of entrepreneurs for the MWBE & Small Business Contractor Training Program. This free twelve-session program focused on building the capacity of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) and other small businesses in construction or related fields, and helping them develop strategies for landing new contract opportunities. Many of the sessions were led by Turner Construction employees who are experts in their respective fields, and also included presentations by Pace SBDC staff, small business lenders as well as City and State agency procurement and certification leads.

Throughout the program participants learned the essentials of the construction management business, from the technical (Building Information Modeling, estimating, procurement) to the managerial (field operations & management, small business financing, and site safety) to the administrative (responding to an RFP, insurance and bonding). As a complement to the workshop sessions, the Pace SBDC provides 1:1 counseling sessions to a number of program participants on securing working capital, developing capability statements, identifying relevant procurement opportunities, and building a website.

In addition to coursework, the program creates opportunities for participants to network with peers, instructors and others in the construction industry. The program concluded with a graduation ceremony in which 32 program participants were awarded with a workshop completion certificate, many of whom we continue to work with on a one-to-one basis.