National Encore Entrepreneurship Mentor Day

In May 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and AARP launched a strategic alliance to provide American entrepreneurs over the age of 50 with real-world, actionable information to start or grow a small business. Through this alliance, the two organizations have jointly committed to train 100,000 “encore entrepreneurs” over the next year. As part of meeting that goal, the SBA and AARP will host National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day on October 2, 2012, featuring local mentoring events throughout the country.

For more than 70 million Americans over the age of 50,business ownership is a practical option. It can be a second career or a chance to leverage life experiences into an interesting and financially practical “encore” career. Entrepreneurship training is the toolkit that empowers these business owners to use their experience,
knowledge, and skills to become job creators.
 

Events will be offered in a variety of formats, including Speed Mentoring, Mentoring Brown Bags, and Mini- Mentoring Fairs. To find a Mentor Day event near you, go to www.sba.gov/mentorday.
 

The SBA has also developed a dedicated web page for Americans over the age of 50 featuring an online self-assessment tool that will help potential small business owners understand their readiness for starting a business as well as information to help with business planning, shaping a winning business idea, professional counseling, financial services and information to find local resources in your area. This web page can be found at: http://www.sba.gov/content/50-entrepreneurs.
 

SBA and AARP also will jointly develop and host a customized online course, self-assessment, and webinar series for more mature entrepreneurs. The SBA already offers a wide variety of online courses for people who want to start and grow their business. To take a course, go to http://www.sba.gov/training under “online courses.” Course topics include start-up basics, finance strategies, marketing tactics, overseas trade, and more.

Please join us Tuesday, October 2nd from 9:30 pm to 11:30 am, to learn about resources available to help you pursue your interest in starting or growing a small business! 

http://www.sba.gov/events/national-encore-entrepreneurship-mentor-day

Andersen Construction Open House on August 14th at CCD Office in Seattle

Update from Andersen Construction that the E. Fir St. project bid date has been moved up a week from Aug. 28^th to Aug. 22^nd, 2pm. Click - Request for Proposal with the correct information.

The MBDA Business Center is joining with Andersen Construction Company Inc. to have an Open House at our CCD classroom on Tuesday, August 14th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  This event is to showcase the Request for Proposal for the 1105 E. Fir Street Apartments construction project that is part of the big Yesler Terrace renovation on Capitol Hill. This project includes constructing a 91-unit apartment building first, then three townhomes with three units in each afterwards.  

This RFP, for which info is attached, is specifically for the MEP trades, namely Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection and Electrical and Low Voltage. NOTE: This RFP is for DESIGN and INSTALL, not just install. Therefore, you will be creating the system you will be installing, and you can hire subcontractors to help.  The estimated amounts for each trade are:  Plumbing $1.3M, HVAC - $7-800K, Electrical - $1.5M, Fire Protection - $300K.  BIDS ARE DUE AT 2:00 pm ON TUESDAY, AUGUST, 28TH!  The buildings themselves have already been designed, however, Andersen is interested in meeting firms with other disciplines, too, as they have a number of projects coming down the pike and would like to start meeting some new firms to work with.

A little bit about Andersen (www.andersen-const.com).  Headquartered in Portland, OR, with a sizeable Seattle office just a couple blocks from CCD, they are a family owned business that's been around for decades and specializes in structural work.  They've done very large projects throughout the PNW and have made it a corporate policy to exceed the WMBE goals that are set out by the project owners (yes!).  In the case of the Fir St. Project, these are the goals Andersen has determined they want to achieve:

Section 3 - Business Participation - 12%
MWBE and Disadvantaged Business Participation - 30%
Section 3 - New Hire employment Percentage - 100%
Section 3 - Employment New Hires for Project - 60 New Hires
MWBE Employment Participation - 50%
Apprentice Utilization Participation - 17%

As you can see, these are healthy targets, especially the MWBE goal of 30%, which is more than twice the level the City of Seattle set. If you have a diversified crew, then your chances of successful bidding are even better. Andersen has indicated that lowest bidder is not necessarily their guideline, but best value and goal achievment, too.

I encourage you to attend this Open House at 1437 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98144 (corner of 16th & Jackson).   Light refreshments will be served and we have free parking around the building and on the streets.  Bring your business cards and any materials you wish to share.  You will also need to complete Andersen's prequalification form, which you can get directly from Andersen, as well as project documents.  I also urge you to call these people at Andersen for more info--they want to hear from you!

Ms. Tracey Hilliard - Community Outreach Coordinator - Ofc: 206-763-6712 or cell: 425-652-8798, e/m thilliard@andersen-const.com

Mr. Steve Jones - Sr. Project Mgr. - Cell:  206-541-8108, e/m sjones@andersen-const.com

Mr. Ben Brodsky - E. Fir St. Project Mgr. - Ofc. 206-763-6712, e/m bbrodsky@andersen-const.com.

Finally, I need to know who and how many will be attending, so please e/m or call me ASAP so I can give Andersen a head count.  Bring your teaming partners, too, and feel free to share this info with others in your data base.  I look forward to seeing you at our 'home'!

Best regards,

Rhonda L. DeVito
Business Consultant
Seattle MBDA Business Center
US Dept. of Commerce/Minority Business Development Agency
Operated by Community Capital Development
Ph:  206-267-3131 x1 | Fx:  206-267-3132 | Cell:  206-234-6390
E/M:  rhondad@seattlembdacenter.com
www.seattlembdacenter.com | www.mbda.gov | www.seattleccd.com