M/WBE Information Session

This information session on January 9th will educate you on the NYS and City of Albany M/WBE application process, will give you tips on how to effectively and efficiently complete the application, provide the benefits of your business becoming a certified M/WBE with the City, County and/or NYS and demonstrate the challenges of becoming certified with NYS. This session is open to all business leaders seeking to learn about the M/WBE certification process.

The intensive follow-up coaching session will take place on January 30th. During the one-on-one coaching sessions, subject matter experts will assist business owners and/or representatives to complete or start the City of Albany or NYS M/WBE certification application. The criteria to take advantage of the coaching sessions is as follows.

• Your company must be 51 percent independently owned, operated and controlled by minority members and/or women. A minority is defined as someone who is at least 25 percent Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan Native.

• You must be in business for one year or more and have filed taxes (this is an NYS and City of Albany requirement).

• You or a representative of your company must’ve participated in the November 29th information session.

Information Session Featured Speakers:

Andrea Leanza

M/WBE Compliance Coordinator, City of Albany

Andrea is responsible for implementing the M/WBE Program and Minority and Women Labor Utilization Plan Ordinance which assures M/WBE’s have the maximum opportunity to participate in City of Albany construction projects.

Paul Stewart

Director of Training & Technical Assistance, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region

Paul Stewart has with the Community Loan Fund since 1998 and possesses well over twenty years of experience in providing services to low-income people and administering community development programs. In addition, he is the recent winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration award for Minority Small Business Advocate for the year.