CWA Hosts Event For Small Businesses in Los Angeles

On June 29, 2017, the California Water Association (CWA) hosted a second workshop for small businesses interested in providing goods or services to California water utilities. The seven CWA member companies with Supplier Diversity Programs joined with the Los Angeles, San Jose and Fresno Minority Business Development Agencies to develop the workshop series, which focused on helping women-, minority-, disabled veteran- and LGBT-owned business enterprises (WMDVLGBTBEs) compete in providing goods and services to water utilities.

Emma Maxey, Supplier Diversity Manager for Golden State Water Company, and Jose G. Espinoza, Supplier Diversity Program Manager for California Water Service, discussed options for  “Doing Business with California Water Companies.” Other presentations and panels addressed access to capital and bonding, the two biggest barriers facing diverse suppliers. Three lenders on the “Access to Capital” panel, Bank of America, Pacific Western Bank and Boston Private Bank and Trust, offered varied perspectives based on their size and geographical reach as well as the types of credit lines, products and lending limits they offer.

“By bringing relevant topics to the target audiences, including the 95 workshop attendees in Los Angeles, our water utilities are doing their part to meet legislative requirements of providing technical assistance and capacity building in a very effective way,” said Maxey.

CWA’s first workshop was held in Sacramento in May with more than 90 attendees, and the next event, “Access to Capital,” will take place in San Francisco at City National Bank.