High-Speed Rail Authority Announces Series of Statewide Small Business Certification Workshops

Orange County SBDC to host HSR Small Business Certification Workshop.

In its continued outreach and assistance to small businesses, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will host a series of statewide workshops to help certify small businesses that want to participate in the statewide high-speed rail project. The Authority will provide small businesses with hands-on technical assistance which includes on-the-spot certification that can be completed online. Participants will also receive pertinent information on upcoming procurement opportunities around the state that would be of interest to their businesses. "The Authority is committed to creating opportunities for small businesses with an aggressive 30 percent goal of participation in California's high-speed rail program," said Jeff Morales, Authority CEO. "We have been working to engage small businesses and encouraging them to get involved. Many of our contracts are long-term and will be a big boost economically for small businesses. We want to help small businesses prepare to work on the project." The Authority's Small Business Advocate Robert Padilla added, "The initial construction in the Central Valley is expected to cost $6 billion dollars and a significant amount of that could go to certified small businesses. These workshops are a critical part of the process for the Authority to partner with California's small businesses." Orange County SBDC is proud to host a southern CA workshop. When:  May 15, 2013      9 AM to 12 Noon Where: Rancho Santiago Community College District      2323 N. Broadway, #107      Santa Ana, CA 92706 The workshops are RSVP-only events and limited to non-certified small business that meet the California Department of General Services (DGS) eligibility criteria to be certified. Specifically, that means that DGS must certify them as a Small Business (SB), Microbusiness (MB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) for the State of California in order for their participation to count toward the 30 percent goal. Workshop participants should bring the following materials with them to the workshop: Applicant/Affiliate Federal Tax Returns for the past three (3) years Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) (if applicable) Secretary of State Number (if applicable) Home address of Officers, Member/Manager and Partners Social Security Number (if sole proprietor) Dunn & Bradstreet Number (if applicable) Contractors State License Board Number (if applicable) The Authority will host several more workshops around the state in the coming months. If you'd like to register for the workshops, please email sbworkshops@hsr.ca.gov.