U.S. Department of Transportation

Small Business Transportation Resource Center - West Central Region

Prime Time for SmallBusinesses in Utah

Over 215 meetings between small businesses and prime contractors took place Oct. 22 in Salt Lake City at an event put on by USDOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), West Central Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC). Held at the offices of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Utah, the Prime Connections event featured one-on-one meetings between small businesses and large prime contractors involved in transportation projects throughout the region. Each small business who attended participated in at least six private meetings held in 15 minute blocks. This speed dating approach allowed USDOT small business clients to make connections and develop relationships that can lead to real and sustained business for their companies.

(West Central SBTRC Director, Joseph Serna)

Prime Connections was held in partnership with AGC of Utah, Utah DOT, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City International Airports and the Utah Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Of the small businesses that attended, six are graduates of the USDOT Bonding Education Program. They are: Budd Rich Plumbing, Inc., Coldsweep, Inc., Cowboy Red Transport, LLC, E.T. Technologies, Inc., First Service & Mechanical, Inc. and Soto Lorenzo & Associates.

Participating prime contractors included: Ames Construction, COP Construction, Geneva Rock Products, Holder/Big-D, Kiewit, Kilgore Contracting, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction, Granite,Stacy & Witbeck, Staker Parson Companies, Wadsworth Brothers Construction and Whitaker Construction.

(Small Business owners meet face to face with Prime Contractors)

The event provided a forum for the prime contractors to gain access to a pool of ready to work small businesses. It also provided the small businesses with access to information about upcoming opportunities on area transportation projects.

The next day, Project Director Joseph Serna and consultantKeller Hayes attended the Utah PTAC Procurement Symposium.They spent the day meeting small business owners and discussingUSDOT programs.

The Colorado Contractors Association (CCA) serves as the West Central Region SBTRC located in Denver. The West Central Region SBTRC executes the USDOT’s small business assistance programs throughout Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. For more information on the West Central Region SBTRC, please visit their webpage showcasing upcoming events, a detailed description of the SBTRC, and contact information.

For more information about USDOT’s resources for Small Business, please visit the USDOT OSDBU website.

6880 South Yosemite Court, Suite 200, Centennial, Colorado 80112-1437 - 303.290.6611, Ext 29