Programs:

• Small Business Program
  
• Regional Business Program
  
• Disabled Veteran Business Program

Business Outreach Programs

The Business Outreach Program was launched in 2001.  Small businesses, locally-owned businesses, disabled veterans, women, minorities, economically disadvantaged business enterprises – all are encouraged to participate.  The program earns critical acclaim throughout the state as a model for public agency contracting programs.  Click on the links to the programs above for more information.

Business Outreach Policy

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is committed to create an environment which affords all individuals and businesses open access to the business opportunities available within the regional service area in a manner that reflects the diversity of its service area.  Therefore, it is the policy of Metropolitan to solicit participation in the performance of all construction contracts, professional service contracts, procurement of supplies, equipment procured by Metropolitan, by all individuals and businesses, including but not limited to small businesses, locally owned businesses, women, minorities and economically disadvantaged business enterprises.

In August 2001, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California launched its Regional/Small Business Program based on federal Small Business Administration guidelines and as a response to Proposition 209 that eliminated California’s race and gender-based business programs.  This aggressive business outreach program was developed to reinvest ratepayer dollars towards local economic development and recovery with business-to-business opportunities targeting small and local businesses in the Southern California area.  The program began with an 18 percent participation goal and exceeded all expectations in the first year by achieving a 28 percent utilization of small businesses in contracting dollars.  Since then Metropolitan has been averaging 36-40 percent of all its dollars spent with vendors in contracting.