The Port Authority’s (PA) contracts with minority, women-owned and small business enterprises (MWSBEs) totaled roughly $491 million in 2016, a new record, the PA says in a news release.
Over the last five years, approximately $1.8 billion dollars have been awarded to MWSBEs.
“The Port Authority continues to be a leader through our comprehensive and effective support of the growth and success of minority, women-owned and small businesses throughout the New York-New Jersey region,” chairman John Degnan said in a statement.
“When the Port Authority does business with MWSBEs, the entire Port District benefits through the creation of jobs and increased economic activity,” said executive director Pat Foye. “This is a strong, enduring and highly productive partnership.”
The $491 million includes $291 million in Port Authority MWSBE spending and $200 million in MWSBE spending by the private consortium modernizing LaGuardia Airport.
PA prime and sub-contracts, totaling $170 million, represented the largest portion of the agency’s business with MWSBEs. Of the rest, $44 million derives from World Trade Center construction projects and $77 million represents aviation tenants.
The $291 million total in Port Authority MWSBE spending generated an estimated 2,490 jobs, $187 million in wages and $498 million in economic activity throughout the New York-New Jersey region.
The PA also continues to build the pipeline of MWSBEs eligible for contracts with the agency through its Mentor-Protégé Program, which matches MWSBEs with industry leaders who serve as mentors. A total of 70 firms have participated in the program since its inception in 2002. In 2016, three protégés won four Port Authority prime contracts totaling approximately $3.8 million. Nine additional protégés were awarded 12 subcontracts totaling $4.4 million.
Through the PA’s contract with the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, the agency also developed and offered 19 construction management, OSHA safety, technical and business software courses. Approximately 381 MWSBE owners or their staff participated in the courses.
