Wilmington's new convention center will need contractors for a wide range of tourism and technical jobs, and businesses that are local or certified as small or minority-owned could stand out among others seeking those positions.
At a forum hosted Thursday night by the city of Wilmington and an urban planning contractor, local business representatives learned about opportunities for contract jobs and criteria required of them to be selected as a contractor with the Wilmington Convention Center.
The city has a policy to encourage the inclusion of women, minorities and small businesses in doing business with the city, said Ken Weeden of Ken Weeden & Associates, a consulting firm contracted by the city to plan Thursday night's forum.
Weeden told the forum's attendees that the city will require small or minority-owned businesses seeking contractor positions to have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification, which means the state has recognized the business as being small and independent with at least 51 percent of the business owned by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. Certifications are issued by the N.C. Department of Transportation or the N.C. Department of Administration.
The convention center, managed by the company SMG, has a no-bid process and will select vendors based on criteria such as quality of services and price, said Susan Eaton, an employee of SMG and general manager of the convention center.
"We have to select the best company based on the best price," she said. "My heart is to go local. Not only is it a good thing to do, it's the right thing to do."
Workers needed by the center will include florists, specialty food caterers, temporary work staff, parking attendants, security guards and janitors, Eaton said.
Mayor Bill Saffo said as completion of the center nears, now is the time to focus on the economic impact it center can have on the community.
"We want to be an economic engine for our community, and this is definitely the catalyst I hope will continue to move economic development and tourism in our community," he said.
More information about opportunities at the center is available on the convention center's website at www.businessmadecasual.com.
Full Article
Ken KeeganReal Estate Broker(910) 523-0903 mobileEmail Mewww.KenKeegan.com
No comments:
Post a Comment