Opening doors of opportunity because rising tides lift all
The transformation of Tidewater Gardens serves as the launch for the City of Norfolk’s new Economic Inclusion Plan and Procurement Policy. Set in 2020, the policy will pave the way for certified small-, minority- and women-owned businesses to win valuable city contracts for the redevelopment of Tidewater Gardens — everything from demolition and housing construction to roadway, utility and stormwater infrastructure work. The policy also commits the City to breaking larger Tidewater Gardens contract opportunities into smaller bid packages and setting aside portions of construction work for SWaM-certified contractors.
As a pilot project, the St. Paul’s Transformation is setting out to achieve 12% Certified Minority Owned Business participation and 13.3% Certified Woman Owned Business participation on all construction contracts! If you are a certified minority- or woman-owned business, we are looking for you!
Please register to receive information:
Subscribe to get Bid Notification at Procurementnow (City of Norfolk) and eVA (State):
The Norfolk Department of Housing and Community Development and Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Delivery invite you to get certified through the Virginia SWaM certification program.
Additional certification opportunities:
For more information, please connect with the Economic Development Department.
Economic inclusion policy is a priority.
- Mandates that developers provide individual inclusion plans for all construction projects valued over $5 million.
- Mandates an analysis of all solicitations for enhanced subcontracting requirements of up to 50%.
- Allows for certain procurements between $25,000 and $5 million to be procured from small and women- and minority-owned businesses.
- Allows for certain solicitations between $25,000 and $250,000 to be procured from local micro-businesses only.
Section 3 program and how it benefits you.
Norfolk has developed and implemented strategies that promote the inclusion of Section 3 workers and certified contractors in the redevelopment project. The overall objectives are to:
- Facilitate favorable employment and training conditions that empower and inspire Section 3 workers and the contractors committed to hiring them.
- Promote capacity building and economic inclusion for Section 3-certified minority- and women-owned businesses.
What is Section 3?
Section 3 is a 1968 public policy that requires recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, to provide job training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to low- and very-low-income persons, especially recipients of government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very-low-income persons.
A place to find work and build career skills
People First USI is partnering with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Tidewater Community College to bring the Dignity of Work program to Tidewater Gardens residents. It’s a FREE 5-week program that prepares participants for construction careers, including training on construction fundamentals, and OSHA10, forklift and flagger certifications. Any current Tidewater Gardens resident who completes the program will be connected to Tidewater Gardens redevelopment construction jobs. Interested?
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