Water district's small business program targets minority and women-owned businesses.

In August 2001, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California launched its Small Business Enterprise Program. This aggressive business outreach was developed to reinvest ratepayer dollars in local economic development, and targeted small, minority-and women-owned businesses in Southern California.

The program began with an 18 percent participation goal and exceeded all expectations the first year, with 28 percent of all contracting dollars to certified small businesses.

Today, the program's overall small business utilization is 32 percent, with 28 percent of Metropolitan's professional service dollars going to certified small business enterprises, along with 26 percent of our procurement dollars and 36 percent of the program's construction dollars.

To capture some of these opportunities--and those at other pubic agencies--business owners need to obtain certification, which can easily be achieved online through Metropolitan's website, www.mwdh2o.com. Once certified by Metropolitan, a business also joins contracting pool at six other Southern California cities and public agencies.

Metropolitan's outreach includes participation in business fairs, trade shows, business groups' meetings, special events, conducting contractors training programs and e-mailing weekly newsletters to more than 11,000 subscribers. The intent is to increase a pool of interested, qualified companies in Metropolitan's business-to-business contracts.

Metropolitan's newest program is Connect-2-MET, a collaboration of its Business Outreach program, Metropolitan's Board of Directors, other public agencies, and small business advocacy associations. In the coming months, these morning events will be held throughout Metropolitan's six-county, 5,200-square-mile service area, hosted by members of Metropolitan's board.

A typical four-hour program agenda will include presentations on "Public Sector Contracting Strategies", a "testimonial" by a successful SBE contractor, a presentation on Metropolitan's water conservation rebate programs for businesses, industries and intuitions, a panel discussion, and networking opportunities.

Readers are encouraged to keep an eye on the "Doing Business" section of the mwdh2o.com web site, certify your small business with Metropolitan, and participate in upcoming events. The Water District will benefit, you'll benefit, and our regional economy will benefit, which is what it's all about.

John A. Arena is Business Outreach Manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.