Minority Women- and Veteran-owned Subcontractors Graduate From “Build With Us @ Suffolk” Accelerator Program

(NEW YORK) July 2024 – On June 27, 2024, Suffolk, one of the largest and most innovative real estate and construction enterprises in the country, held a graduation ceremony at its New York office for nine firms that completed “Build With Us @ Suffolk,” an accelerator program for trade partners and subcontractors, particularly minority,- women-, and veteran-owned business enterprises (M/W/VBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), and U.S. Small Business Administration-certified (SBA) businesses. The program has enabled Suffolk to build a pipeline of qualified firms to meet New York’s goal, where officials aim to award $25 billion in contracts to M/W/VBE firms by 2026 and will increase that goal to $60 billion by 2060.

 

The eight-course “Build With Us @ Suffolk” program was designed to help smaller M/W/VBE firms to better understand the business practices and processes necessary to partner with Suffolk and large general contractors on projects. Graduates are also paired with Suffolk mentors who will continue to guide them as they join an alumni network of more than 250 businesses nationwide that have completed the program since its launch in 2012, helping to ensure their continued success.

 

“We recognize the barriers faced by minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses, and through this program, we are providing the tools to help them expand their businesses, develop relationships with our leadership, and open the door to new construction opportunities,” said Tom Giordano, General Manager of Suffolk’s New York region. “I was honored to personally congratulate these individuals and businesses who graduated from the program and remain committed to the learning and growth required for sustained success.”

 

Lateef Belfor, Principal at Bonanza Contracting LLC, is grateful for the opportunity to connect with Suffolk leadership and for the increased knowledge and ongoing support from participating.

 

“Suffolk is one of the most successful and innovative contractors in the country, so it speaks volumes that its team dedicates significant resources to provide a learning program that helps smaller contractors and businesses succeed and grow,” said Belfor. “As a minority-owned firm, we are excited to learn from the best in the industry and we are looking forward to establishing a long-term partnership with Suffolk that will help lead to growth opportunities for our firm.”

 

This year's participants were a diverse group of small business owners from the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Mount Vernon, and Long Island, specializing in carpentry, electrical, concrete, fire alarm, kitchen installation, and insulation services.

· Adam Electrical Contracting, LLC

· Appelli Interiors Inc. DBA Zephyr Interiors Co.

· Bonanza Contracting LLC

· ELM Suspension Systems, Inc.

· G & J Leading Construction Inc.

· IGM Holdings Inc. DBA Green Power Associates

· KND Licensed Electrical Contracting & Services, Corp.

· TM Construction Group LLC

· MVP Design & Development Inc.

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies) and innovation research/development.