As part of its growing effort to attract greater participation from minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) held a well-attended outreach conference where interested firms learned more about the bus manufacturing industry.

The MTA's initiative is aimed at helping to create efficiencies and increased competition in the industry that in turn will generate savings to the MTA.

Representatives from Daimler Buses North America, Motor Coach Industries, New Flyer Industries, Nova Bus, Prevost and the MTA provided the attendees with information on the types of parts, supplies and services needed as part of the bus manufacturing process. The businesses that attended the conference already offer related products and services and could become suppliers to bus manufacturers and the MTA.

This effort is the latest the MTA has recently undertaken to encourage diverse participation in transportation-related projects and enterprises.

Last year, the MTA created an award-winning Small Business Mentoring Program, which has led to a record number of contracts being awarded to New York State-certified minority-owned, women-owned businesses and MTA-certified disadvantaged businesses. That program facilitates a transfer of knowledge that will enable the participants to become regular MTA contractors and larger subcontractors. It also includes classroom construction training, access to working capital loans, surety bonding support and most of all prime bidding opportunities.