New York Governor Kathy Hochul this week announced a historic milestone in the transformation of a whole new LaGuardia Airport (LGA), where a record $2 billion in contracts have been awarded thus far to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, which is the largest participation by MWBE firms at any public-private partnership project in New York State history.
The $5.1 billion redevelopment project of LGA Terminal B has also awarded $775 million in contracts Queens, NY-based local business enterprises.
“Today’s milestone is enormously significant as we work toward a more inclusive and equitable economic recovery, and it is in keeping with our nation-leading goal to increase Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises participation in public contracts to 30 percent,” Governor Hochul said at an event celebrating the milestone. “As one of the nation’s leading transportation agencies, the Port Authority is demonstrating what can be done to create more equity in our society and make sure that the economic benefits of great infrastructure projects reach all of our communities.”
To increase MWBE participation at the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment Program, and across the agency, the Port Authority and its Office of Diversity and Inclusion created a variety of capacity-building programs that prepared firms to be successful in navigating what can at times be complex airport-related procurements.
“Together with our private partners, we are delivering a whole new LaGuardia, including a relentless focus on ensuring contracts with Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises and with businesses within local communities,” said Rick Cotton, director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), which operates LGA. “It demonstrates that we are committed to producing results and not promises when it comes to our MWBE agenda.”
