Reggie Garcia worked as an employee in the construction business for about 30 years. Just three years after deciding to work for himself, Garcia landed his first big project.
Being a new, small and minority-owned business has its challenges, but a new program through Denver Public Schools to increase participation of diverse contractors is giving some businesses added opportunities.
Latcon Corp., Garcia’s contracting company out of Pueblo West, will work under Adolfson & Peterson Construction in a mentor-protégé collaboration on a $10 million renovation of Swansea Elementary.
Alone, Latcon Corp. doesn’t have the cashflow or bonding capacity to work a project of that size.
“Getting some of the government entities to give you an opportunity takes a lot,” Garcia said. “To get an opportunity, just to even bid sometimes, takes a lot. Getting this job and getting out there and showing people what we could do is going to open a lot of doors for us.”
A year ago, the district to set goals for participation from minority- and women-owned businesses after a study they commissioned found disparities between available businesses for the jobs and how many actually got contracts with the district.
It started with projects in February. DPS, the largest school district in the state by enrollment, is boasting more than 33 percent of the dollars spent this year on construction projects from its 2012 bond have gone to minority- and women-owned businesses.
“Lots of progress has been made to date,” director of facility management Trena Deane told the school board .
Some business owners say the celebration is too much too soon.
“The amount that we are talking about is a small amount,” said Joe Salazar, an attorney representing businesses in the Committee for City and Airport Fairness. “It is too soon for them to boast about what they have been doing. This is very recent, and prior to 2015 their record has been absolutely dismal.”
Since Denver voters approved the bond, the district has spent about $411 million. Of the $25.5 million spent since February, $8.55 million have gone to minority- or women-owned businesses — or about 33 percent.
For bond-financed projects from 2007 through 2010, the district reported, , spending $4.2 million with minority- or women-owned businesses — or about 1.3 percent.
The most challenging part is increasing diversity among prime contractors.
