The CU Grow Vendor Development program hosted its first procurement event of 2022 on April 13th. The virtual event brought together the program’s current cohort of 21 minority-women- and locally owned (MWL) firms – the sixth cohort in the program’s history – with program alumni and project managers from Columbia University Facilities and Operations for a networking event to learn about upcoming business opportunities and resources available.
At the event, the participating firms were greeted with opening remarks by David M. Greenberg, Executive Vice President of Columbia University Facilities and Operations, and Tanya Pope, Assistant Vice President of University Supplier Diversity, followed by presentations about potential projects available to bid at Columbia’s new business school and information from Columbia Print Services about preferential pricing on printing and design services available to CU Grow’s current participants and alumni.
Participants also learned about capital loans, including the different phases of the construction loan process and how they work, from partner presenter Katie Parks, senior program manager for BOC Capital, a not-for-profit dedicated to providing affordable and flexible loans along with technical assistance to small businesses.
This event was the first of four procurement sessions to be held during the 11-month CU Grow program. To learn more about the CU Grow Vendor Development program, visit cugrow.columbia.edu.