Upcoming national sporting events seek inclusion of minority and women-owned business

22nd August 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Pierce W. Huff
Contributing Writer

New Orleans will host some of the biggest sporting events in the world within the next two years, and those host organizations want to make sure that local minority and women-owned bus­i­nesses will have a chance to profit from what could be a combined $500 million economic impact to the area.

The NCAA Men’s Final Four lo­cal organizing committee and the New Orleans Super Bowl committee have started the NCAA Access Program and Entergy’s Super Bowl host committee emerging business program, which are designed to help minority and women-owned businesses in time for the 2012 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the 2013 Super Bowl and the 2013 NCAA Women’s Final Four with procurement, educational and business opportunities.

“These programs can be described in one word — opportunity,” said Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson, who is the tournament director for the 2012 Final Four.

Tisha Ford, the manager of events business development with the National Football League Special Events Department, said this is a “legacy program for the NFL.”

“We look at our program as not only a program, but an investment,” Ford said.

There will be a NCAA Access Program workshop, which will be held on September 31 at the Col­lins C. Diboll Gallery and Audito­rium at 1440 Canal Street.

All businesses interested in these programs must be certified by the City of New Orleans, the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council or the Women Business Enterprise, Gulf Coast.

There are a total of 57 service categories available to minority or women-owned businesses at the 2012 Final Four. These categories range from food and beverage to printing to videographer to waste management.

First, interested businesses have to register at www.gno­sports.com. Registered businesses can designate three service categories and indicate which certifying agency they are registered with. The registered businesses will be placed into a business resource guide, which will include a profile with contact information, certification and past project information. The registration deadline is November 31. Then, the application for the bids process will begin shortly thereafter.

“There has to be a process and a fair process to allow these opportunities to take place,” said Jacqie Carpenter, NCAA Director of Division I Men’s Basketball.

Carpenter said the NCAA is excited about having the access program in New Orleans and thinks the www.gnosports.com website could make a difference.

“We’ve never had a website before,” she said. “The website launch is going to be a big part of this program. There are some really neat things with this. Hopefully we’ll expand this to all championships in the NCAA.”

Rod West, Entergy’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, said these programs can make a difference for minority and women-owned businesses in New Orleans.

This article was originally published in the August 22, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper