Agreement aimed at leveling playing field for Asian minorities.

To enable minority-owned companies to better compete in the commercial construction industry, AMEC and the Asian American Business Development Center have teamed up to level the playing field.

AMEC, an international services and construction management firm, will assist Asian American owned construction companies and related businesses in obtaining knowledge and skills necessary to bid on projects with major construction companies in lower Manhattan, as well as throughout the New York metropolitan region.

"Many of the Asian American construction and related businesses are generally smaller companies and lack familiarity with the procedures of the governmental bid process and often times have no way to compete," said John Wang president of AABDC. "By in large, partnering with AMEC will give smaller construction firms and other related business lines the information they need to prepare for a bid."

The partnership between the two organizations was the brainchild of Vickie Sykes, assistant vice-president of diversity and community affairs at AMEC.

"I live in Queens and I noticed that the Asian construction companies were doing so much residential in Queens and Flushing," said Sykes. "Then I asked myself how can they be so big in residential and not in commercial? 1 wanted the industry to represent New York City's cultural diversity."

AMEC currently hosts a free professional workshop series designed to nurture the growth of minority, women-owned and small businesses. In August, Asian American business owners will participate in the workshops focusing on cost estimation, growing a small business, business ethics and business law. Citibank sponsors the series.

"In lower Manhattan there will be major construction projects going on and we hope Asian American businesses will be participating in the rebuilding," Wang said. "It's not to say the businesses don't have the skills. They just don't know the procedures."

When the series of workshops are complete, AMEC's job will not end, said Roland Ferriera, vice president Director of Business Development.

"'Once they come here, we can't stop," Ferriera said. "Getting here is easy. Continuing on afterwards is what becomes difficult."

Afterwards the company helps firms get involved in the bidding process either as first or second tier contractors, or as suppliers. Second tier contractors are also matched with specific prime trade contractors.

AMEC's senior vice-president, Milo Riverso, said the company doesn't expect changes to come easily or overnight.

"These programs don't have an immediate response," Riverso said. "It takes a long time, but AMEC is in it for the long term."

Initially 20 to 25 Asian American owners will take the workshops that begin Aug. 13.

"It's a way smaller businesses can grow," said Wang, who estimates that there are 300 Asian American owned construction or related businesses in the New York area. "You need to have that type of knowledge."

AABDC is a non-profit organization that was established in 1994 by Wang to provide technical assistance to improve the management skills of Asian American business owners including assistance in accessing and utilizing government and private economic development resources. Its mission is to also provide programs to help businesses and entrepreneurs access potential markets outside the confines of their ethnic communities.

AMEC provides design, project delivery and maintenance support to clients in the oil and gas, transportation, industrial and infrastructure sectors. The company generates revenues in excess of $8 billion and works at the local, national and international levels, employing 50,000 people throughout North America, the UK, continental Europe, and some 40 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.amec.com.