Applications for Construction Certificate/Mentorship Program Now Accepted

NEW YORK, June 4, 2009 — Columbia University, in conjunction with the New York City Department of Small Business Services, is now accepting applications to its certificate/mentorship program for minority-, women- and locally owned (MWL) construction-related businesses.

MWL businesses accepted into this initiative participate in a two-year mentorship programproviding both classroom instruction and hands-on business management experience. The program, designed for firms with annual gross sales of no more than $1 million, helps to create new opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses in the area. After successful completion of the academic program, businesses will receive a Columbia University certificate. 

Eighteen of the firms that participated in the pilot program’s first year remain active and nine have received more than $5 million in contracts from Columbia. The second year of the MWL mentorship program will build on the experiences of the first-year effort. 

“We are actively adapting our program to adjust to both the challenges and opportunities faced by the MWL construction community,” said Joe Ienuso, Columbia’s executive vice president for facilities. “The ultimate goal is to strengthen and better prepare firms to compete for jobs across New York City and at Columbia.” 

The academic portion of the mentorship program is modeled on the NYC Department of Small Business Services first-year curriculum.  It is designed and administered by the graduate program in construction administration at Columbia’s School of Continuing Education. 

Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year will be accepted until Monday, July 6. Firms accepted into the program will be notified no later than Friday, August 14, and must commit to actively participating in the program, which begins in September.  

“Businesses accepted into the certificate/mentorship program must be committed to a rigorous course of study,” said Peter Awn, acting dean of the School of Continuing Education.  “This is a wonderful, unprecedented opportunity worth tens of thousands of dollars to participants and will be offered free to minority-, women- and locally owned construction firms that are accepted into the program.” 

In addition to the academic component, participating firms will benefit from networking opportunities with project managers who solicit bids. After six months of participation, firms will have the opportunity to be part of a bidding process limited to only other certificate/mentorship program participants. Firms that are accepted into the program will also have access to free technical assistance. 

“Our partnership with Columbia University is helping our city’s minority and women-owned firms succeed,” said Robert W. Walsh, the commissioner of city’s Department of Small Business Services. “We want to help these small businesses every step of the way. We encourage them to take advantage of additional services through NYC Business Solutions, including assistance with legal matters, navigating government, financing, hiring, employee training, access to incentives, and more.” 

To be accepted into the program, firms must be engaged in a construction-related trade, be certified or make a commitment to get certified with the Department of Small Business Services as minority-, women- or locally-owned.  They must also agree to attend all classes in the academic program. 

“Our goal is to create opportunity for the minority, women and local business community with a focus on local firms,” said La-Verna J. Fountain, Columbia’s associate vice president for construction business services and the program’s administrator. “We will help open the doors and then the firms must compete and succeed with the added skills and opportunities we help provide. We know they have the drive to expand their businesses and create local jobs and the good news is that this certificate/mentorship program helps them do exactly that.” 

To learn more and obtain an application, visit the Columbia University Facilities web site athttp://facilities.columbia.edu/mentorshipprogram, call 212-854-3649 or e-mail [email protected]. 

About Columbia University

A leading academic and research university, Columbia University continually seeks to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to foster a campus community deeply engaged in understanding and addressing the complex global issues of our time. Columbia’s extensive public service initiatives, cultural collaborations, and community partnerships help define the university’s underlying values and mission to educate students to be both leading scholars and informed, engaged citizens. Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.