Aurora outreach program November 9 will familiarize contractors with bidding opportunities for the Illinois Jobs Now! construction program

AURORA – An outreach program to familiarize contractors, designers and suppliers with bidding opportunities under the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program will be held Friday, November 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 501 Pipers Banquets at 1295 East Butterfield Road in Aurora.  The program is free and open to anyone interested in working on state-funded construction projects.  Reservations are requested, and may be made by contacting Sandy Begue, Capital Development Board, (217) 524-6793 or email sandy.begue@illinois.gov.  Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.

The November 9 program is sponsored by Construction Industries Service Corp., Fox Valley Associated General Contractors, Fox Valley Building Trades Council, and Kane County Economic Development.  It will be conducted by the Capital Development Board (CDB), which manages all state-funded, non-road construction projects.

The session will feature an overview of the Illinois Jobs Now! program and bidding opportunities for projects included in the program.  Topics to be covered include project delivery methods; the Minority Business Enterprise / Female Business Enterprise (MBE/FBE) program; an overview of requirements and opportunities for architects, engineers and designers; and a session that will help business people become pre-qualified as required to bid on state construction projects, and familiarize them with state contract requirements. 

“These are part of a series of outreach efforts that are being held throughout the state to keep the construction industry involved in the $31 billion, three-year Illinois Jobs Now! capital program that is creating about 439,000 construction jobs,” said CDB Executive Director Jim Underwood.  “The program will also give firms who may not have done state construction work in the past the opportunity to network with key CDB personnel, and to learn the basic requirements for participating in state construction projects, including prequalification.”