Welcome to the Bridge to 550!

San Antonio, TX - The San Antonio Economic Development Department (EDD) recently launched a new program, Bridge to 550, to raise awareness about the multitude of city government contracts available as a result of the 2007 bond improvements that were approved by voters. A total of $550 million will be awarded over the course of five years, and the City hopes to increase participation among small, minority- and women-owned businesses.

Bridge to 550 comprises a series of outreach opportunities, including a television program, monthly newsletter and tradeshow. Each component will be interrelated, with the overall mission of educating small, minority- and women-owned businesses about the vast opportunities available with the newly approved bond improvements. The EDD hopes to educate the community that although general and subcontracting companies comprise a large portion of the vendor prospects, there is also a need in many instances for supporting work for the various subcontractors, such as accounting and clerical work, marketing for the companies and a myriad of other business services.

Dozens of contracts have already been awarded to contractors and their subs. EDD is pleased to announce that 56 percent of these awarded contracts have gone to local and Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) firms.

Heading up the initiative are three newly appointed officers dedicated to the improvement of San Antonio and its small, minority- and woman-owned businesses. Anita Uribe Martin, Assistant Director for the EDD, was recently promoted from Economic Development Manager. Under her direction are the Women's Business Center, Small Business Division and the South Texas Business Fund. Alongside Martin are Melissa Aguillon, Economic Development Manager, and Sylvia Pomales-Starrett, Senior Economic Development Specialist.

Together, these three women will oversee educational services and support to better prepare businesses with bidding on bond projects.

Proposed 2008 city bond improvement projects include:

Apache Park - Pavilion
Arnold Park
Ave Maria Outfall (Ave Maria to Burwood)
Catalpa - Pershing Bridge Modifications
Culebra Creek Park Land Acquisition and/or Park
Culebra Creek RSWF
District 9 New Branch Library
Downtown Transportation Infrastructure Improvements
Flores Park Pool
Gateway Terrace Park
Golden Community Park
Guadalupe Theater
Guilbeau Road Drainage Improvements Phase II (Mystic Park to 800 ft east of Mystic Park)
Harlandale Park Group Pavilion
HemisFair Park
Heritage Neighborhood Pool
High Water Detection/Early Flood Warning System Expansion
Hillside Acres Community Gardens
Johnston Branch Library
Kingsborough School Walking Track Lighting
Lackland Terrace Park and Skate Facility
Lockwood Park Gym
M.L. King Park
Magik Children's Theater
Market Square
Market Square El Mercado Building
McCreless Branch Library
Medical Center Intersection Improvements: Phase VI and VII
Medina Base Road Park
Memorial Branch Library
Miller's Pond Park
Mission Library District 3
Mitchell Lake Westlands Conservation
Monterrey Park
Nani Falcone Skate Park
New Braunfels/Nacogdoches Intersection
North New Braunfels Sidewalks
Northampton Park
Northeast Area Recreational Facility Octavia #63 Phase II
Oak Glen/Haskin Low Water Crossing, Phase I (Cave Lane to Oak Glen)
Officer John R. Wheeler Park (Chestnut Springs Park)
Oscar Perez Park
Palo Alto College Soccer Field
Pershing Park
Rainbow Hills Park
RiverWalk
Roosevelt Park - Playground
Spicewood Park
Stablewood Park
Swimming Facilities Improvements (City Council District 7)
St. Cloud Pedestrian Improvement (Woodlawn to Babcock)
Villa Coronado Park and Community Center
Wallace (26th to Inca)
Westside YMCA Building Renovations
Witte
Woodlawn Lake Park - Pedestrian Bridge and Playground

These, and many more projects will be available for bidding. Bridge to 550 will keep you informed of important dates and deadlines, as well as provide you with comprehensive information and how to's such as how to register as a certified small business.