Contractor Development Program

This comprehensive program provides technical assistance, business development, and financial guidance to small, minority, and women-owned firms. This program assists contractors with capacity and business growth as well as obtaining bonding so that participating firms are prepared to bid on city projects.

All City MWSBE and NCDOT certified DBE firms are strongly encouraged to participate in this program,. Whether you need assistance obtaining bonding or business development, the Contractor Development Program is a great resource for small, minority and women owned firms to build and strengthen their business.

 

The Four Pillars of Contractor Development

Assessment & Technical Assistance

  • Enrollment in our Contractor Development Program.
  • Personal Contractor Development Manager to provide a professional assessment of your current capacity and growth needs.
  • One-on-one consultation to develop a work plan aligned with your business needs and goals.
  • Facilitated referrals to Program Partners and resources.
  • Referrals to specific project opportunities.

Bond Readiness Assistance

  • Assistance with obtaining or increasing bonding capacity.
  • Bond Collateral Support and contract finance assistance through a partnership with Carolina Small Business Development Fund.
  • Contract review, project assessment, and field support.
  • Assistance with project risk identification and mitigation.
  • Accounting cost subsidy for CPA-prepared financial statements.

Education & Training

  • Group Classes on public construction best practices led by industry experts.
  • Creation of individualized Contractor Profile to assist with business marketing.

Program Partnerships

  • Strategic alliances with Program Prime contractors including matchmaking and referrals.
  • Networking with public agency staff and peer contractors.

Eligible Applicants

Firms must hold a Minority, Women, Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) certification with the City of Charlotte and/or NC DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification

For those firms who do not hold the requisite certifications, contact the CBI Office at cbi@charlotte.gov

Workshop Sessions

To guarantee seat availability, register by clicking the workshop name in the table below.

Workshop Session Dates and Times
Workshop Name Dates Time (EST) Training Program Delivery
 B.Y.O. Laptop - Drop-In Pre-Qualification Workshop  September 7, 2023  11 a.m. - 1 p.m.  In-Person (Lunch Provided)
 Bidding & Estimating Training Academy  September 27-
October 25, 2023
 Wednesdays
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sessions 1 & 2 are In-Person
Sessions 2-5 are Virtual
 Doing Business with the City  October 12, 2023  3:00 p.m.  Virtual
 Doing Business with the City  November 9, 2023  3:00 p.m.  Virtual
 Perfect Pitch: Networking for Results  November 15, 2023  9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  In-Person (Lunch Provided)
 Bonding 101  December 7, 2023  5:30 p.m.  Virtual