MWBE Quarterly Newsletter
September 2021
MWBE Spotlight
Largest Water Project to Utilize Diversity and Inclusion Goals
Criado & Associates
Throughout the year , the City of Arlington highlights minority-owned and women-owned businesses who help make The American Dream City a better place to live , work , play and learn . Our latest interview is with Criado and Associates , a Hispanic woman-owned firm that has participated in several City projects , including the 2017 Miscellaneous Drainage Improvements , the Engineering Services Contract for the John F . Kubala Water Treatment Plant Lab and Maintenance Building , and the Engineering Services Contract for Poly Webb Road .
When was your company founded and where is it located ?
Criado and Associates was formed in 2001 in Dallas , Texas , by Cristina Criado , PE . In the fall of 2021 , we will be opening our Fort Worth office .
What types of projects do you do ? What is your company ’ s specialty ?
An upcoming $ 112 million upgrade for the City of Arlington ’ s Pierce-Burch Water Treatment Plant will mark two major milestones for Arlington . First , it is the largest plant rehabilitation project in the history of the Arlington Water Utilities treatment division . Second , it is the first major capital improvement project to be put out for bid under Arlington ’ s recently adopted Minority / Woman Business Enterprise policy . Both achievements have been years in the making , according to City officials .
The multi-year Pierce-Burch project will be constructed in several phases at the 1901 Lakewood Drive facility on Arlington ’ s west side near Lake Arlington . Construction will start in November 2021 and continue for four years . It will include the replacement of chemical feed facilities used during the water treatment process , new concrete structures called clearwells where treated water is stored , and high service pumps used to send water to homes and businesses . Improvements to the plant ' s electrical system are also part of the project .
On March 2 , 2021 , the City of Arlington increased its aspirational goal for the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in City contracts from 25 % to 30 %.
( Continued on page 3 .)