By SUSAN LIEHE DSBO Mentor- Protégé Program: Building Today’s Capacity, Investing in Tomorrow Development & Opportunity (DEDO), the Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO) supports the growth, capacity, and sustainability of small, disadvantaged, minority and women-owned businesses. DSBO encourages and measures the utilization of certified firms on city-managed construction and professional services projects and the procurement of covered goods and services purchased by the city. As a division within the city’s Denver Economic
capabilities of the protégé.
But utilization goals and contract compliance are just two elements of DSBO’s work. Growing firms need to be ready, strong, and stable to perform successfully on public contracts. DSBO’s robust outreach and capacity building program focuses on nurturing and educating small businesses, including delivering its successful citywide Mentor- Protégé program. Each pairing of mentor- proteges is actually a three- way support platform, since the ultimate purpose of the program is to develop long-term business relationships between established prime contractors, MWBE firms, and city agencies. The involvement of both the agencies and mentors enhance the management and technical
Mentors and Protégés must enter the program jointly and are expected to establish a mutually agreed upon development plan with input from a selected agency for at least one year. Building trust, creating relationships, and making the investment of time and effort is important, but the benefits to everyone involved are powerful. educational and networking opportunities for selected pairings on renewable one- year stints and coordinated through an identified agency liaison include the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Denver Parks and Recreation, Denver International City agencies that have committed to offering
32 The Acumen
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