Dozens of top tier businesses and airport representatives are set to help those interested understand the rules of engagement for doing business with the Houston Airport System (HAS).

Call it mentoring, lending a helping hand or just plain good business development, representatives from dozens of brand name businesses are scheduled to participate in the second annual Business Opportunity Networking Fair hosted by HAS.

“It is our goal to make sure all types of business owners get a fair shot at doing business with the airport system,” says Rick Vacar, HAS director. “There is plenty of opportunity at our airports and we want to make sure people know how to take advantage of this thriving business environment.”

The Business Opportunity Networking Fair is something of a call to arms for business owners who want a piece of the multi-million dollar contract pie available through HAS. Contracts run the gamut including supply, purchasing, planning, architecture, electrical, construction, retail, food and beverage, to name a few.

Any business awarded an HAS contract becomes what’s known as a prime contractor, a business that has demonstrated it has the resources to handle sometimes complicated and costly projects.

Each prime contractor is required to subcontract part of the contract to minority and woman, disadvantaged or small business enterprises in accordance with an established contract goal.

These are businesses that have been certified by the city of Houston or the Texas Unified Certification Program as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority and Woman Owned Business enterprises (MWBE), Persons with Disability Enterprises (PDBE) and others that qualify as small businesses (SBE).

“We want to broaden the base for these businesses and remove barriers,” says Jessica Van Wert, HAS MWDBE contracting liaison. “Getting these businesses involved adds creativity, nurtures small business, provides jobs and strengthens the community.”