More than 130 businesses attend event promoting economic inclusion in public contracting
LOS ANGELES, CA (November 14, 2023) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP hosted a Supplier Diversity fair at its downtown headquarters, the John Ferraro Building. The event earlier this month provided underrepresented small firms and businesses with wider access to contracting opportunities at LADWP and other Los Angeles public agencies. More than 130 small, disadvantaged businesses representing a wide spectrum of supply categories attended the event, which included networking opportunities and informational booths. LADWP is committed to ensuring that its supply chain better reflects the customers and communities it serves.
“As an entrepreneur myself, I know that success means making the connections that result in work and our metric for success at LADWP is seeing a whole lot more of local, small businesses be part of our major infrastructure projects” said Cynthia McClain-Hill, President of the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners. “That’s a commitment we’re making, and this event is the kickoff for that process.”
The fair also contracting representatives of on site from various city and government agencies including L.A. Metro, L.A. Sanitation and Environment, Los Angeles World Airports, as well as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and prime contractors such as Kiewit, AECOM, and WEBCOR. The evening provided an open networking forum for minority- and women-owned business to have one-on-one conversations with prime contractors to discuss opportunities for subcontracting on major infrastructure projects.
“Supplier diversity is an important part of LADWP’s commitment to economic inclusion,” said Aram Benyamin, LADWP Chief Operating Officer. “Events like this help ensure that we’re able to meet our goals—in LADWP’s case, provide clean, sustainable water supplies and renewable energy, while at the same time fostering and investing in economic growth for locally-owned businesses, which is something that benefits us all.”
LADWP administers programs and outreach like the Supplier Diversity Fair to encourage the participation of all businesses, including, but not limited to:
- Small Business Enterprises (SBEs)
- Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBEs)
- Emerging Business Enterprises (EBEs)
- Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs)
- Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs)
- LGBT-Owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs)
- Local Business Enterprises (LBEs)
Business that want to be certified in the previously mentioned categories can do so through the City of L.A. Bureau of Contract Administration: https://bca.lacity.org/certification
Businesses interested in contracting with the City of L.A. and its various city agencies including LADWP, must register at the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMPLA). The RAMPLA website features self-registration and profile management for vendors: www.rampla.org
Business looking to do business with LADWP specifically can search on the SupplyLine quarterly newsletter www.ladwp.com/supplyline for upcoming contracting opportunities or contact the LADWP Supplier Diversity Office with any questions:
Email: supplierdiversityoffice@ladwp.com
Phone: (213) 367-3732
