Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Assemblyman Fall’s program bill (A.8020/S.6354) into law as Chapter .234. The new law will extend the MTA Small Business Mentoring Program for 10 years until December 31, 2029.

For the last ten years, the Small Business Mentoring Program has allowed the MTA to award its public works projects in a cost-effective and diverse manner. According to a report done in the first seven years of the program; 6,000 jobs were created in the MTA’s fourteen county service region. Of the 240 approved contracts, 162 were awarded to New York State certified Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE’s) and MTA Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) contractors who now serve as prime contractors.

More importantly, 76% of contracts under the existing program have been successfully closed on time or even ahead of schedule. The new law continues that all participating firms are covered by the MTA’s Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) and guarantees that all contracts are awarded through a competitive bid process for cost savings to taxpayer’s.

“By extending this program, we will continue to provide supportive services including business development, construction training, access to capital funds, business plans and back-office support in a cost effective and diverse manner.

The MTA small business mentoring program is a perfect example of how one of the largest agency’s in the world can promote small business and inspiring entrepreneur’s to succeed,” said Assemblyman Charles D. Fall.