Have you ever thought about how you can truly make a difference in the success and growth of small businesses? One of the most significant things you can do is to become a mentor to a small W/MBE company. As with most endeavors, there are a number of ways to do this and new ways that pop up every week. There is the SBA Mentor Protege, MnDOT’s Mentor Protégé, and other programs by small Associations and community groups. Today I want to highlight the Construction Partnering Program. 

The Construction Partnering Program (CPP) is a City of Saint Paul initiative that started over 20 years ago. The program was developed initially by MEDA and the City. In 2007, AWC became a co facilitator of the program with MEDA, and in 2016 held the contract solely from the city. This program has been highly successful through the years. Currently our longest running partnership is between Kraus-Anderson Construction and Reiling Construction nearing 15 years. Our newest partnership is a development partnership between Doran and Amani. 

The program works because the partners set their own goals and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding agreement. The agreement is not littered with legal rules and regulations but is set up to develop small businesses. Although the ultimate goal is that the small company grow and work in partnership with their mentor, that is not the foundation of the program. The foundation is to truly mentor the small businesses on systems and business acumen to be a successful construction business. 

This year we are looking for large subcontractors and general contractors to give back to the industry. I have plenty of W/MBEs looking for guidance and mentorship. These relationships make all the difference to emerging businesses just trying to succeed. Quotes I have heard from mentors over the years include:

• Asked why I mentor a potential competitor, and my answer is that I look forward to having good competitors in the industry
• Mentoring our partner to improve dramatically reduces our risk working on a job together. We know they are estimating properly, invoicing correctly, share our safety standards and when our teams get onsite together, they work in tandem.
• Helping an emerging business is the RIGHT thing to do – it is that simple.

While you are trying to gauge how you can make a difference consider finding a way to mentor those starting out or needing assistance. To all my large GCs and Subs out there – WE NEED YOU! Reach out and let us help you to do the right thing.

– B