WASHINGTON, DC – September 24, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded the City of New Orleans $1,042,684 to create a training program to help minority-owned businesses compete for contracting opportunities in federal and state-funded disaster recovery programs. The grant is provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
“New Orleans will use this grant to help expand the capacity of minority firms to compete more effectively in the ongoing recovery efforts in the city,” said Donovan. “The proposed training program seeks to put minority-owned businesses on an equal footing with other companies seeking to help New Orleans in its ongoing recovery efforts.”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu added, “Local and minority-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy and are the key to our rebuilding efforts. As we are recreating New Orleans, it is imperative that that we improve the capacity of local and minority business to compete for major contracts. These CDBG funds will complement our DBE reform measures to do exactly that.”
New Orleans is proposing to develop a minority contractor training program, offering a diverse curriculum that would include the following courses:
- Contractor capacity assessments
- Introduction to State Licensing Requirements (for new contractors only)
- Business Planning
- Business and Personal Credit Counseling
- Insurance, bonding and risk management
- Minority business certifications
- Responding to Requests for Proposal (RFPs)
- Construction management best practices
- Accounting training
- Website Development
- Certified Payroll administration
- Labor Pool coordination
- Clerical/Accounting support
New Orleans is seeking public comment on the use of these funds for the proposed training program.
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
Contact:
Brian Sullivan
(202) 708-0685