Community DevelopmentWhile the construction industry in the greater San Diego area is currently thriving in response to the community’s needs for housing, commercial development, the building and repairing of schools (funded by Proposition MM), and the ancillary developments around the new San Diego Padres’ Petco Park baseball complex, this is still a very challenging industry for new, small and emerging businesses, especially those owned and operated by women and persons of color. Responding to the needs of these new, small and emerging, often disadvantaged businesses is essential to developing the community at large, making it hospitable for all aspiring business personsPart of the problem lies in onerous and complicated public agency requirements and procedures. In 2002, several construction industry associations began a dialog aimed at (a) identifying commonly-experienced public agency problems and (b) developing market-based solutions to these problems. These associations – American Subcontractors Association, Black Contractors Association, Engineering & General Contractors Association, Latino Building Industry Association, National Electrical Contractors Association and Women Construction Owners & Executives – have looked at issues such as pre-qualification, bidding practices, prompt payment, the City of San Diego’s SCOP program, etc. Despite the diversity of our group – African-Americans, Latinos, women, general and subcontractors in both the engineering and building trades – we found significant common ground. We began working with the City of San Diego and during the early months of 2002, we developed an 18-point “Home Town Plan” which has been presented to the City of San Diego and is being presented to various other regional cities and agencies. It is proposed that the EGCA Foundation seek funding to actively promote the Home Town Plan in over twenty other agencies and cities throughout the region. Part of the problem is also a lack of education in the basics of how to organize and operate a successful construction company. Under three grants from the City of San Diego, a “Contractor’s Roadmap” has been researched and developed and is available on the internet at www.roadmap.bz . Outreach events, advertising and free training sessions have been presented to small and emerging businesses in 2003-2004. It is proposed that the EGCA Foundation seek funding to actively expand the availability, influence and training of the “Contractor’s Roadmap” project in conjunction with our current partners including the Asian Business Association, American Subcontractors Association (CIC), Black Contractors Association (CIC), City of San Diego (EOC), Contractor News & Views, Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise Network, Fauchier Group, Engineering & General Contractors Association (CIC), National Electrical Contractors Association (CIC), Power Summit, Red Door (formerly AVENCOM), San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center, Small Business Development & International Trade Center, Spinster Marketing, Women Construction Owners and Executives (CIC). |
Our Board
Mike Shaw
Kyle Nelson
Cass Construction
Chairman
Kyle Nelson
Cass Construction
Chairman
Rodger Fosbinder
David Hayhurst
Dean, SDSU College of Engineering
Dean, SDSU College of Engineering
Vicki Martin
The Blue Book
The Blue Book
Jason Mordhorst
Hazard Construction Company
Hazard Construction Company
Debbie Day
Executive Director, EGCA
CFO/Secretary
Executive Director, EGCA
CFO/Secretary
The EGCA Foundation
Is a non-profit 501(C)3 Corporation
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Community Development
Community Development