Business Outreach Programs

Business Outreach

Investing In Southern California Businesses

From minority women-owned engineering firms to a two-person virtual reality startup, our Business Outreach Program is helping small businesses across Southern California grow and thrive.

Since the program’s inception two decades ago – one of the first such initiatives in the state –we invested more than $1.5 billion in Southern California’s small, local and disabled veteran-owned businesses.

Metropolitan’s business outreach team works hand in hand with small business owners to put them on the path to success. Our team advocates on their behalf, both inside and outside Metropolitan, hosts educational and networking events, and highlights relevant contracting opportunities.

While our Business Outreach Program aims to spur economic development across our region through small business investment, it also has generated cost-effective and creative solutions to Metropolitan. As capable and competitive as their larger counterparts, these businesses have nimbly adapted their innovative ideas to our needs.

MetWorks Program

Watch a video to learn more about our networking program.

Learn more about our new networking program, designed to better align Metropolitan with our Southern California contractor community. We look forward to talking and exploring opportunities together to work on our regional water distribution, power generation and treatment systems. At a series of quarterly workshops, we will share insight into our contract standards and procedures and discuss any upcoming contracting opportunities.

Learn More

Metropolitan’s Goal: providing 25 percent of outside contracts to small, regional and disabled veteran-owned businesses

Incentive Requirements

Small Businesses

Comply with U.S. Small Business Administration industry guidelines and be certified either by the state of California or Metropolitan

Regional Businesses

Have a physical business address in Metropolitan’s service area for at least one year

Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses

Be certified by either the state of California or federal government

Finding Opportunities

Doing business with Metropolitan starts in one place:

NETConnect

After registering through a simple application process, businesses will receive notices about bid opportunities and have easy access to RFBs, RFPs, and RFQs, as well as bid results.

Note: technical support for NETConnect is provided directly through NETConnect.

Let's Connect

Twice a year, Metropolitan hosts resource and networking fairs offering businesses the opportunity to meet directly with Metropolitan staff, member agency representatives and partnering agencies. These Connect2Met events provide businesses tools to win contracts, including detailed insight on how government agencies make purchases and use outside contractors.

Contracting Incentives

We ensure commitment to small, regional and disabled veteran-owned businesses with three particular incentives and requirements:

All construction contracts over $100,000 are required to use small and/or disabled veteran business enterprises for a set percentage of their subcontracting. This small business requirement is established for each contract based on the dollar value of the contract, scope of work and small business contractor availability. It is typically at least 20 percent. Compliance is monitored by Metropolitan.

A 5 percent scoring preference on professional services contracts is provided to small and disabled veteran businesses. An additional 5 percent scoring preference is provided to regional firms.

A 5 percent reduction credit on procurement contracts is provided to small and disabled veteran-owned businesses, and an additional 5 percent reduction credit is provided to regional firms, with a $25,000 maximum reduction credit.

A lab technician conducts tests at a Metropolitan laboratory

MWD Innovates

Innovation happens here. It's not just a slogan; it's how we are building a better water future for Southern California. 

We have a growing portfolio of programs and activities that support innovation and entrepreneurs, through collaboration and information sharing. As Southern California builds on its reputation as a global leader in sustainability and clean technology development, we’re helping bring innovations for the water sector to market.

If you have a great idea, we can help you find answers, partners, and opportunities.

Learn More

Contacts

Business Outreach Program Manager

John Arena
(213) 217-5519

Small Business Certification Officer

Wendy Barba
(213) 217-7239

Construction & Engineering

Rick Duarte
(213) 217-7329

Veteran Advocate Sponsorships & Memberships

Jeannette Correa
(213) 217-6750

Outreach

Ken Ashford
(213) 217-6719

Business Outreach Hotline

(213) 217-7444