FROM THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
Continued Contractor Support and Updated Offerings
Welcome to our Spring 2022 issue . Despite the recent lifting of COVID-19-related restrictions and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) requirements , this remains a particularly challenging period for small businesses . At the same time , in the construction field , there are many public works projects offering opportunities to qualified small contractors within Alameda County .
As the administrator of the Alameda County Contractor Technical Assistance Program ( CTAP ), all of us at Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services ( MWIS ) remain committed to assisting local small and diverse contractors to navigate challenges and sustainably grow their businesses . For local small and diverse contractors seeking to bid on Alameda County contracts , the CTAP provides technical assistance , training and guidance to improve and strengthen their businesses , as well as help obtaining bonding or increasing bonding capacity .
Read through this issue for updates on a number of County programs and projects , as well as useful and motivational information shared by our program partners and featured CTAP-enrolled contractors .
The CTAP staff continues to work closely with County leadership , primes , and partner agencies to conduct virtual outreach workshops and trainings on behalf of our local small and diverse contractor community . In this issue , we highlight some of these efforts , including webinars about District 3 Construction Outreach , How to Manage and Track Change Orders in Real Time , Marketing Tips for LBEs , and more , offered as part of our virtual Contractor Business Recovery Series . We designed the series to assist small contractors with business recovery , preparing for unplanned events , and getting back on track to succeed .
We are now offering our Contractor Business Development Series . This new series provides training , information , and resources to help small contractors increase their capacity and plan for sustainable growth and long-term success . The first session of this new series kicked off with a Financial and Strategic Planning webinar .
Herein , we also provide a brief status report on the Alameda County Public Works Agency ( ACPWA ) Hesperian Boulevard Corridor Improvement Project and how small local and diverse contractors can get involved .
We spend some time with Megan Leary , Small Business and Community Outreach Services Manager
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