Los Angeles Unified School District

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has embarked on an aggressive, multi-billion dollar school construction and renovation program that will deliver new and modernized school facilities and more than 110,000 new classroom seats by the year 2010. LAUSD's investment of $7.4 billion in new and existing school facilities represents the largest school construction and renovation program in the western United States and the most significant economic injection to the construction industry in the Los Angeles region. In recognition that the $7.4 billion school construction and renovation program will require a large pool of qualified contractors and that the construction activity will take place in diverse neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles and neighboring cities, the Board of Education deems it imperative that small businesses have access to compete for these newly generated economic opportunities.

In February 2003, the Board of Education adopted a historical 25% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal for all procurement and construction contracts issued by the LAUSD. This far-reaching SBE participation goal is the guiding principle for the Small Business Program.

The mission of the Small Business Program is to increase the pool of qualified firms to compete for LAUSD bond-funded construction contracts through the significant participation of certified SBE firms. The Small Business Program provides SBE firms with information and access to compete for bond-funded construction contracts; and referral services to technical assistance, financial, bonding and insurance, and certification services that promote the long-term competitive capacity of SBE firms.

The LA Metro MBEC has partnered with LAUSD to develop the Small Business Boot Camp which is an eight week program hosted by the LA Metro MBEC at the University of Southern California that provides small contractors with the tools necessary to improve their competitive capacity through a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum.

At the conclusion of the eight-week program, graduating small contractors will be ready to bid on LAUSD contracts, and will be well-prepared to pursue contracts with other public agencies. The program has both short and long-term benefits for participating contractors and will serve to expand the District's pool of qualified contractors.