WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, Laborers Local 210 Business Manager Pete Capitano (on the left) and his Brother, Sam - who serves as Business Manager of Upstate New York LIUNA (Laborers International Union of North America), co-hosted the first in what will be a series of mentorship seminars held across New York State that offer a variety of assistance to Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) interested in getting more work on publicly funded projects.  Sam Capitano tells WNYLaborToday.com this unique and first-of-its-kind symposium that features a Building Trades Union offering such help may just be “the first-of-its-kind in the Nation.”  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – In a first-of-its-kind offering in New York State that just might be the first-of-its-kind in the Nation, the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) recently held a mentorship seminar in Buffalo, hosted by Laborers Local 210, for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWB) that offered an array of help and services for them to grow their business and market share on publicly funded projects.

Dubbed MWBE Mentorship - Thriving In New York’s Construction Industry, the New York State Laborers Union, in conjunction with the New York State Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust (LECET), kicked off an extremely unique offering that was attended by nearly 50 people in Downtown Buffalo, including several and high-profile State-elected Officials.

Those in attendance were educated on a number of offerings made available to them by working with LIUNA, including: Project Leads Programs; Worker training and Apprenticeship; Bonding Insurance; Access to capital; Providing administrative guidance; and Networking opportunities.

WNYLaborToday.com overheard several positive conversations by those who attended the event, including a couple who tipped their hat to the Laborers for putting on such an offering.

“This is the ‘brainchild’ of the LECET Fund ‘and it’s the first time this has been done in New York State - and possibly the first in the Nation,’” Sam Capitano told WNYLaborToday.com prior to the three-hour seminar held at the Buffalo Marriott Hotel inside the Union-built LECOM HARBORCENTER.  “We are going to take this ‘all across’ New York State ‘because we need more’ employers.  ‘This will also become a path for employment for disadvantaged Workers to work on Public Works projects.’  It ‘takes so much money to get started (for a MWBE business) and get going and that’s why what we are detailing is so beneficial to them’ when it comes to bidding on public work.”

His Brother Peter added: “This is ‘all about building relationships and our communities’ - and ‘we need’ contractors ‘in order to fill the MWBE requirements’ (on public projects, like the new and massive billion-dollar-plus Buffalo Bills’ stadium that’s currently being constructed in nearby Orchard Park, not to mention billions for an array of upcoming Federal Infrastructure Improvement Projects).  And (as a Building Trades Union) the Laborers provide (Workers) ‘with a way to get into the Upper Class with higher wages, health coverage and a pension so they can provide for themselves and their families - with dignity.’  These projects ‘will put a lot of people to work while building a (life-long) career.’  ‘There is no greater joy that putting people to work and seeing them change their lives.’  ‘What we are offering today puts us ahead in the game and I look forward to creating relationships’ with (more and more WMBEs).”

Also speaking at the seminar was Laborers-LECET Executive Director Patrick Purcell, Jr. (pictured below), who said: “We are ‘committed to working with good and responsible contractors who want to engage with good and responsible people.’  ‘We are all in.’  We are ‘committed to helping people do these jobs and we will work with you to make sure we have WMBEs working’ (on publicly funded projects).  We are also working on ‘recruiting more Women and Veterans (to the Trades’ Apprenticeship Programs) and we will make sure we have diversity’ (on those projects).  ‘This effort is a first-of-its-kind and we will tell our story.’”

Laborers/LECET Representatives went into further detail on what is being offered so more WMBE Businesses can get their slice of the economic pie as New York State now requires a 30% MWBE utilization goal on State-funded Construction Projects, including the new Bills’ Stadium.  That goal is the highest in the Nation, those speaking said, adding more than $3 billion in State Construction Projects were awarded to MWBEs in Fiscal Year 2020-2021.

Also detailed were: MEPc’s - Market Expansion Program for Contractors, which provide contractors with an alert system for project leads that Laborers/LECET Reps described as “second to none;” Construction and Bonding Insurance; Training and Apprenticeships for Workers through the New York State Laborers; and Networking Opportunities through the Laborers’ Signatory Contractors; as well as Supportive and enhancing Public Relations and Media Services through LECET.

“This (effort) ‘starts right here in Buffalo,’” Jeremy Delgado (pictured below) - who serves as New York State Laborers’ Labor Management/Field Coordinator, told those in attendance.  “We’re ‘here to help our contractors meet (diversity) goals, including everything from making sure they fill out their certified payroll (correctly) so they don’t get disbarred and that they have a New York State Registered’ Apprenticeship Program.  Right now, (80% to 86%) of Laborers’ Apprentices are Minorities, with (15%) Women - and we have an (86%) retention rate on Apprenticeships.  If you’re ‘not a registered’ contractor, ‘you cannot bid on’ State work.  ‘And you need to be (properly) bonded and have (working) capital, that’s why we’ve (partnered with a bank) to provide to a revolving loan fund.”

Michael Clay, who serves as Senior Director of Opportunity Programs, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) appeared via video link to provide a further wealth of information to those in attendance.

In addition, Cerise Sutton, who serves as Site Director for the Buffalo Center for Employment Opportunities, educated all on the opportunity to provide employment opportunities in construction for the previously incarcerated.

Also there to soak it all in were New York State Senators Tim Kennedy (who Chairs the Senate’s Committee on Transportation) and Sean Ryan (who both represent the Buffalo area), Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson, as well as others, who all listened intently to what was being offered by the Laborers/LECET.

The offering also attracted Representatives of Rochester’s Laborers Local 435, including its Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, Dan Kuntz.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More Information, Contact: Laborers/LECET Executive Director Patrick Purcell at 518-449-1715 and New York State Laborers' Rep Delgado at 716-510-4163.