The Lafayette Airport Commission is planning an estimated $150 million in construction projects, including the new terminal and runway improvements, over the next 3-5 years. Some will be funded with federal dollars, some with state grants and others by the airport commission. A key component of these projects is the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal, set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), of 7.31 percent for minority-owned businesses on federally funded projects. The commission has decided that the DBE goal will apply to all projects, including state, local and airport funded ones.

“There are two Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) currently out for decision: an Architectural & Engineering RFQ and a Project Management & Construction Management RFQ. They will be followed by a Construction RFQ or bid later this year,” says Lafayette Airport Commission Chairman Paul Guilbeau. “The prime contractors we select for those three contracts will have a mandate to meet the DBE goal, which the commission considers very important. That opens opportunities for qualified, certified DBE businesses related to construction who chose to pursue that work . The key is the business must be certified as a DBE by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) and they must contact businesses who win the prime contracts.”

To help contractors meet their goals by promoting DBE certification to minority businesses, the airport commission will host two educational meetings and a workshop to help educate business owners to help them apply. Businesses eligible for DBE certification include those owned by Black Americans, Women, Hispanics, Native Americans and Pacific Asians. To qualify businesses must be 51 percent minority-owned, and the minority owner must run the daily operations of the business.

“There are very few certified DBE businesses in the Acadiana Region,” says Guilbeau. “With active participation from minority businesses who are interested, and assistance from our DBE education partners, we hope that will change. There is a process and paperwork that must be filed to gain certification. These meetings will be set up to help businesses learn and then complete the necessary applications with help from various agencies who provide their help free of charge.”

The DBE educational meeting will be held Wednesday, April 6 at 5:30 pm and will be repeated on Saturday, April 9 at 10 am at the Clifton Chenier Center, 220 W. Willow Street, Building C. Representatives from LADOTD, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Small Business Development Center, Southern University Small Business Development Center, Lafayette Regional Airport and Lafayette Consolidated Government’s DBE program will participate. They will discuss what the airport projects include, define what a DBE is and described qualifications for certification, and give an overview of the paperwork needed to apply.

Three weeks later, on Saturday, April 30 at 9 am, also at the Clifton Chenier Center, a workshop will be held where representatives from the educational meeting participants will be available to provide hands-on free help in filling out the DBE application. Both the meetings and the workshop are free of charge.

For those businesses ready to apply before the workshops, help is available through the Small Business Development Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette – contact Heidi Melancon at 337-482-6312.

The Lafayette Airport Commission recently held two educational meetings for area businesses to clarify the certification process for the Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) goal established by the Federal Aviation Administration on upcoming airport projects. The high attendance, expert presentations and engaging discussions were an exceptional start to this dedicated effort to provide significant opportunities for businesses in the community.

Nearly 300 people were in attendance for the two meetings at the Clifton Chenier Center in Lafayette, which clarified how local businesses that are qualified can become DBE-certified and potentially secure work on airport projects. Because most airport projects utilize federal funding, it is a federal requirement that eligible businesses be DBE certified by the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (LADOTD) for their work to be counted toward DBE goals.

Representatives from the LADOTD, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Small Business Development Center, Lafayette Regional Airport and Lafayette Consolidated Government’s DBE program participated in these educational meetings. They discussed what the airport projects include, defined what a DBE precisely is and described the qualifications for certification.

Several governmental leaders also attended the meetings to show their support of the airport, including Senator Gerald Boudreaux, Representatives Terry Landry and Vincent Pierre, Lafayette city council members Kenneth Boudreaux and Patrick Lewis, and Louisiana Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson.

Over the next three to five years the Lafayette Airport Commission has plans for an estimated $150 million in construction-related projects, including a new terminal and runway improvements. These upgrades will be funded by a combination of federal dollars, state grants and other funds provided by the airport. A key component of these projects is the DBE goal, set by the FAA, of 6.52 percent.

The commission voted to have the DBE goal apply to all construction and related projects, no matter the funding source. Those who qualify for the DBE program include women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian-Pacific Americans and others.

“It was gratifying to see so many people from all parts of the community participate in these educational sessions and come away with a clearer understanding of the DBE qualification process,” said Lafayette Airport Commission Secretary/Treasurer Valerie Garrett, who was the point person for the Commission’s efforts. “The DBE goal is an important part of building an airport that will serve this region for generations. While meeting the goal will be the responsibility of the general contractors, the commission is dedicated to providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds and diversities.”

For the new terminal, the Lafayette Airport Commission has selected RS&H of Austin, Texas as the prime contractor for Architecture & Engineering (A/E), and Heery International of Atlanta, Ga. as the prime contractor for Project Management & Construction Management (PMCM). These contractors will actively seek subcontractors to work on these projects, and it presents an opportunity for DBE-certified businesses to promote their services.

On April 30 at 9 a.m., a workshop will be held at the Clifton Chenier Center where representatives from the organizations that participated in these educational meetings will provide hands-on, free help in filling out the DBE application. The earlier meetings and the upcoming workshop are free of charge.

“At the next meeting, there will be people who roll up their sleeves and help get applications completed for the prospects who come with the proper documents,” said Garrett. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to be involved in a great project in our community, and the DBE experts we will have on hand from City Parish Government, UL Lafayette and the LADOTD want to help everyone properly complete the application.”