The MWDBE office serves as a certifying participant in the PAUCP. The office provides certification counseling sessions throughout the area including the Diversity Business Resource Center on the North Side, the Community Empowerment Association in Homewood and the Hill District Community Development Corporation.
The mission of the MWDBE department is to build the capacity of MWDBE-certified businesses, to monitor contracts to ensure compliance with Allegheny County goals and to provide outreach and technical assistance to the business community.
MWDBE achievement goals include reviewing subcontracting plans to determine the level of inclusion, and monitor all contracts to determine level of achievement to established goals. MWDBE contract inclusion goals are 13 percent for MBEs and 2 percent for WBEs.
One business, “A good story” according to Byrd-Smith, is E&S Parking and Transportation, Inc. operated by Edward Everett. E&S manages and operates the parking shuttle service at Pittsburgh International Airport. Retiring after 30 years Everett, providing old school wisdom, said when he first started his business he remembered something his mother taught him, to always have a rainy day fund, which he had by saving $20 a week in a shoe box and through a Christmas Club savings account.
“Being a small business owner managing the unknown, he said no matter what, having that shoe box can save you,” Everett said. Everett’s next piece of advice is to stay current and to “stay woke.”
He also stressed the importance of having good credit. “Do whatever it takes. Pay your bills on time and it takes sacrifices and hard work, but in the long run it pays off.”
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