Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com Octubre 2019 3 NegociosNow NegociosNow By David Steinkraus T he Illinois Tollway has plenty of money to spend, and it wants to help your business get a share. About 30% of the agency's spending is designated as diver- sity spending, said Executive Director José Alvarez. He was appointed to lead the agency in April and prior to that was chief operating officer and chief of staff of the Chicago Housing Authority. To help minority- and wom- en-owned firms do business, he said, the tollway has a mentor- ship program that links small- er businesses with larger and more experienced businesses. The agency also offers a Techni- cal Assistance Program through partnerships with organiza- tions such as the Hispanic American Construction Indus- try Association and the black chambers. The program can, for example, help small firms become certified as minority- owned businesses or make sure they have the right office struc- ILLINOIS TOLLWAY WANTS YOU TO TAKE ITS MONEY ture to handle a contract. The money is already there. Move Illinois, a $14 billion, 15-year program to upgrade the tollway, is only about half com- plete. And of the $6.7 billion spent so far, diversity spending has been $1.9 billion, according to an agency press release. More than road construction is involved. In May, for example, the tollway's Board of Directors approved $1.8 million for the removal of old equipment and installation of new cooling tow- ers and chillers at the tollway's Central Administration Build- ing in Downers Grove. Nor is it only the tollway that construction firms should look at. Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved a new capital spending plan for the state that includes road work for Chicago O'Hare Inter- national Airport. "There's going to be a lot of work in the state for the next 10 years," Alvarez said. This prospect of future work only gives added impetus to his desire to increase the busi- ness capacity of minority- owned companies. Data from labor organizations have shown for some time that there is a potential shortage of skilled construction workers, he said. Because of this, Alvarez said, he wants to build more sup- plier diversity now so he is not caught later without people to do the work. Ask for help The No. 1 and No. 2 pieces of advice Alvarez has for small companies wanting to do busi- ness with the tollway are the same: Ask for help. "Honestly, that's the one thing that I see a lot: small firms not having enough experience. They tend to struggle on their own with some of the challeng- es. Don't. There are so many resources, and not just at the tollway," he said. Other govern- ment agencies also offer assis- tance. "We all have resources, so don't be shy. We want you to succeed." He sees two main sticking points for small businesses. One is an inability to under- stand the typical 300- or 400- page request for proposal. The other is cash flow: the ability for a small company to make pay- roll, maintain insurance, and pay other costs when there is a delay in receiving payment from a government agency. The tollway has been doing a good job of promoting diversity among its suppliers, Alvarez said. "If you look at their track record, they've always been supportive of diverse and small companies," he said. "All I'm doing is bringing ideas based on my experience — and add- ing to that success." Foto Illinois Tollway With the Move Illinois toll road program only half complete, and capital projects recently approved by the state, companies will have work for years. "H onestly, that's the one thing that I see a lot: small firms not having enough experience. They tend to struggle on their own with some of the challenges. Don't. There are so many resources, and not just at the tollway" Foto cortesía José Alvarez

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