- Promote opportunities for economic development and growth of minority businesses;
- Serve as an advocate for minority businesses in city contracting and procurement;
- Provide business assistance to minority business enterprises by responding to technical and information requests;
- Resolve issues relating to the impact of agencies policies and regulations on minority businesses;
- Serve as an information resource for minority business enterprises and state agencies;
- Identify proactive ways for the inclusion of minority business in city contracting opportunities;
- Coordinate, develop and implement a regional minority business capacity building and training program;
- Create partnerships between minority businesses and majority contractors to benefit minority businesses and economic development projects throughout Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford;
- Provide technical assistance to city agencies and guide them toward the attainment of meeting the city’s goals;
- Disseminate bid information to minority business enterprises making them aware of opportunities;
- Assist all departments with identifying minority business enterprises to purchase goods and/or services;
- Foster a positive environment for small, minority, women-owned businesses and state agencies to increase opportunities for minority business enterprises in the state’s procurement system;
- Conduct project site visits and administratively monitor contracts for compliance;
- Provide accessible computer terminals for companies to register on the city’s new computerized program RFP Depot and online access to review bids currently available with the City of Bridgeport and surrounding towns;
- Coordinate and participate in outreach efforts that publicize the city’s procurement opportunities;
- Conduct aggressive outreach and recruitment for local Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) who can deliver competitive, high quality and on-time products and professional services;
- Work with city’s Finance Department to ensure timely payments;
- Provide referrals for one-on-one consultation for business development (i.e. finances/loans, cash flow management, purchasing, strategic and tactical planning, quality control, marketing and sales strategies, business plans, financial management)
- Assist local MBEs with certification applications (DAS, CMSDC, DOT, etc.);
- Conduct capacity business training/workshops/seminars to expand and sustain businesses such as “How to Do Business with the City of Bridgeport,” “How To Market Your Business,” etc.
- Provide professional networking opportunities and pre-bidders conferences with all local developers;
- Provide financial solutions for MBEs that encourage economic and employment growth, job training and business recruitment;
- Develop a quarterly newsletter highlighting contract awards so the MBEs can be made aware of possible subcontracting opportunities;
- Publish the city’s newly developed MBE directory;
- Work with City departments to unbundle large contracts into smaller quantity contracts.
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Additional Links
CONTACT INFORMATION
Fred Gee
Small & Minority Business Enterprise
City Hall Annex
999 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: 203-576-8473
Fax: 203-576-3913
Email Me
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