2023 Pittsburgh Building Growth Cohort

This first Building Growth Cohort will help up to 5 emerging Black-owned contracting and construction businesses achieve higher levels of performance.

Starting in 2023, Bridgeway’s BID program will seek participants for its Building Growth Cohort. This intensive activity will pair peer and expert-driven learning with individualized supportive services to boost skills and confidence around running (and growing) a contracting and construction business.

The sessions will cover three main focus areas:

  1. Participants will better understand the financial and operational fundamentals of their business to ensure that they are truly ready to grow.
  2. Experts will lead sessions on identifying, securing, and managing large-scale construction projects that take participants to higher levels of profitability and success.
  3. The Building Growth Cohort will conclude with sessions on how to leverage newly acquired abilities into a more successful future.

Program Basics

Specifications

  • 6-months of intensive sessions
  • 3-months of post-graduation support
  • 1 learning session and 1 review session per month
  • The cohort meets for two hours every second and fourth Tuesday of the month
  • Access to mentoring to activate learning and pursue projects
  • Cohort-driven with 5 participants in a peer group
  • Participants get 40 hours of training and coaching
  • Up to $3000 for supportive services during sessions
  • Up to $3000 for supportive services after graduation
  • Access to project opportunities
  • Session attendance and cohort participation enforced
  • Pre and post-program business assessments to gauge the impact

Timeline

  • Applications open on December 1, 2022, at 12:00 AM EST
  • Information Session on December 15, 2022, at 12:00 PM EST
  • Applications are due on December 31, 2022, at 12:00 AM EST
  • Cohort participants announced on January 5, 2023
  • Cohort orientation on January 17, 2023
  • The 6-month session schedule is outlined below
  • The session will end with a graduation event at the Wilkinsburg Train Station

Eligibility

  • Small businesses based in Southwestern Pennsylvania
  • Black-owned small businesses
  • Small businesses started before 2021
  • Annual gross revenue under $250,000
  • Average construction contract below $100,000

Our Experts

La’Taunja Martin Cooper

Founder | Martila Enterprise

Martila Enterprise is a professional construction management and real estate solutions company providing clients with the best services in project initiation through project closeout. They aim to become the forefront company that offers an unparalleled experience by building trust and valued relationships with clients.

Francine B. Cameron | CPA & MBA

President & CEO | CPSG, LLC.

Cameron Professional Services Group (CPSG) provides owners with project management, credit analysis, plan & cost review, operational review, fiscal management, and vendor management to organizations undertaking community development projects. CPSG also offers accounting services to for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Christopher Kujawa

President | PDDM Solutions, LLC

PDDM Solutions provides construction and project management services, engineering/environmental design, permitting services, and workforce professional staffing and recruiting. The PDDM Solutions Team has grown and continues to grow because of its hard work and dedication to providing the best services to its clients.

Gather, Learn, and Share

All sessions will be at The Wilkinsburg Train Station in the Bridgeway Capital space located on the first floor.

Directions

Session Schedule

Is my emerging business ready for larger projects?

Part 1: Learn Session
Tues., Feb. 7, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Francine Cameron

These first sessions will dive right into the business fundamentals of cohort participants with a focus on financial management tools. What makes them ready (or not) to take on larger projects with more risks and returns. Taskwork will include balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and providing a brief vision for the next steps with legal, marketing, and insurance tools.

Part 1: Review Session
Tues., Feb. 21, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Francine Cameron

Is my emerging business ready for larger projects?

Part 2: Learn Session 
Tues., March 7, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Francine Cameron

These sessions will challenge cohort participants to get real about their back office practices and partners. Proper systems need to be in place to meet the needs of a wide variety of project stakeholders, ranging from clients to subs. Taskwork will include action plans to fill gaps in operations, which can be directly addressed through the cohorts’ supportive services.

Part 2: Review Session
Tues., March 21, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Francine Cameron

How do I effectively pursue larger projects?

Learn Session
Tues., April 4, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Christopher Kujawa

When emerging contracting and construction businesses identify new projects they want to pursue, knowing the best practices to win the contract may not always be clear. Taskwork will include pursuing a sample project. Participants will hone their estimating, bidding, and proposing processes needed to compete for opportunities professionally and with a higher likelihood of success.

Review Session
Tues., April 18, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Christopher Kujawa

How do I profitably manage larger projects?

Part 1 – Learn Session
Tues., May 9, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: La’Taunja Martin Cooper

Larger projects can be exciting at first, with the prospect of increased revenues. But they also bring new and difficult challenges. How are you communicating with the clients and/or general contractor? How are you capitalizing for mobilization? How are you managing your subcontractors? These sessions will explore the best practices and lessons learned to make sure your largest project is not your last project.

Part 1 – Review Session
Tues., May 23, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: La’Taunja Martin Cooper

How do I profitably manage larger projects?

Part 2 – Learn Session
Tues., June 6, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: La’Taunja Martin Cooper

In part 2 of this vital section, we will explore methods to keep larger projects on time and on budget. Cohort participants will share approaches to collaborations and conflicts that inevitably arise at the worksite. Taskwork will include mitigation techniques to handle project issues and to ensure that your business comes out ahead while meeting client needs.

Part 2 – Review Session
Tues., June 20, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: La’Taunja Martin Cooper

Where do take my strengthened business from here?

Learn Session
Tues., July 11, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: Roderick Ramsey

This month is all about turning your learnings into earnings. Participants will synthesize everything they learned over the preceding months into a high-impact elevator pitch to inspire future customers. As part of this process, participants will evaluate their current marketing approach and create a plan of action to be more visible and successful in the construction sector.

Review Session
Tues., July 25, 2023
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Expert Guide: TBD

Building Growth Cohort Graduation

On Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 5pm to 7pm participants will receive a certification of completion and share their visions for growth

Post Graduation Support

After the 6 months of sessions begins the real work. Graduates will be eligible for $3000 in additional supportive services to keep making key improvements. The experts that led the session will be on hand for one-on-one coaching as participants exercise new capabilities and confidence in the marketplace. Support will continue for 3 additional months after graduation. In addition, with stronger business fundamentals in place, cohort participants will be able to consider capital to grow from Bridgeway to take even greater leaps toward growth.