The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) has formed a panel to facilitate outreach to the region’s small, women- and minority-owned business, as well as individuals, to award opportunities available in the $1.6 billion Clean Water Project to upgrade the region’s sewage system. The District’s panel—known as the “Strategic Advisory Committee”-- is comprised of business, government and construction industry professionals, as well as MDC Commissioners. They have each volunteered to assist the District’s staff maximize the small, women’s and minority-owned business involvement in the CWP.

MDC staff members Robert Weimar, Chief of Program Management and Rick Gomez, PMU Diversity Officer, will support the Strategic Advisory Committee’s work.

The committee has been working to formalize an outreach plan. Areas of activity include:

• Helping businesses to have the tools to compete for contracts and to arrange joint ventures;
• Examining and evaluating approaches to engage disadvantaged, minority and women-owned firms, such as workforce training , business mentoring programs and individual apprenticeships;
• Ensuring contractor and subcontractor compliance with state and MDC hiring and contracting goals;
• Communicating issues of concern to the public and keeping them informed of project schedules and activities.

For further information on the Strategic Advisory Committee please contact Rick Gomez at 860.278.7850 extension 3266