For Immediate Release
Aug. 9, 2019
Contact:
Frederick Badlissi
(424) 646-5260
(Los Angeles, CA) Yesterday evening, the first class of small-business construction contractors graduated from Los Angeles World Airports' (LAWA) innovative BuildLAX Academy. Launched in June, BuildLAX prepares small and local business representatives to compete for bidding opportunities with prime contractors working at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The inaugural class of the eight-week program included 17 graduates who own or work at small businesses near LAX.
"The transformation of LAX is a multibillion dollar effort, and we want to make sure that our small and local businesses are not stopped by one of the biggest hurdles to getting a contract working at LAX – navigating what can be a very complicated bidding process," said Bob Gilbert, Strategic Advisor, LAWA. "Thanks to the BuildLAX Academy, our graduates are better prepared to compete for contracts at LAWA and we look forward to welcoming many back as winning contractors in the near future."
BuildLAX Academy content includes project planning, project labor agreements, local hire and labor compliance, surety bonds and insurance, construction management and project administration. Courses are led by representatives from LAWA, LAWA's prime contractors and other professionals associated with LAWA and its contractors.
"With programs like the BuildLAX Academy, led by people who want to help, small businesses like ours have a voice and a fair opportunity to compete for bids," said Rudy Garcia, Operations Manager, PG Cutting Services. "We know that Los Angeles is a Mecca of opportunities for small businesses, and we appreciate all the people who are helping us write our story."
In addition to empowering contractors with the knowledge needed to submit viable and competitive bids, the program also helps small businesses gain the skills to successfully plan a project. BuildLAX not only helps local prime contractors on LAX projects meet local hiring requirements, but also helps to retain the benefits of economic development in the area surrounding LAX and Los Angeles.
The program's first graduates are now ready to pursue opportunities that are part of LAWA's capital improvement program, including the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program, the Midfield Satellite Concourse and the Airport Police Facility.
BuildLAX is the latest program offered by LAWA to help more Angelenos who own small businesses in the construction industry, especially those from areas surrounding LAX, successfully navigate and find contracting opportunities with LAWA. Other programs include the LAWA Small Business Matchmaking Seminar, which directly connects prospective subcontractors and suppliers with prime contractors and well as its monthly "How to Do Business with LAWA" workshops, which provide training for prospective contractors and vendors. LAWA also offers the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades.
For more information about how to enroll in the next BuildLAX Academy class, email businessandjobs@lawa.org.
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.
LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
