Clean Water Partnership’s Mentorship Programs Support Storm Water Projects

Dec. 17, 2020

The Clean Water Partnership announced the graduation of 16 local, small, and/or minority-firms from its Mentor Protégé and Emerging Landscapers Programs.

 

The Clean Water Partnership (CWP), the community-based partnership between Prince George’s County and Corvias, announced the graduation of 16 local, small, and/or minority-firms from its Mentor Protégé and Emerging Landscapers Programs. 

The Mentor Protégé Program (MPP) is in its fourth year and mentors and supports to develop the local capacity of small businesses in storm water management and green infrastructure projects, reported the press release. 

The CWP created the Emerging Landscapers Program (ELP) in 2020 to expand the pool of qualified landscaping firms capable of performing aesthetic and functional maintenance on storm water best management practices (BMPs). 

The mentorship program started in 2017.

Over 35 firms have completed the Mentor Protégé Program, including 13 firms from the Emerging Landscapers Program this year. 

“The Mentor Protégé and Emerging Landscapers Programs help to prepare and empower the cohort participants to be better equipped to bid and win storm water projects that will grow their businesses,” said Keisha Brown, Corvias Partnership Liaison. “In a COVID environment that has impacted so many small businesses, we recognize the fortune and benefit of being categorized as an essential critical infrastructure workforce within the water sector and have been able to continue our operations and construction projects. The Clean Water Partnership is motivated to continue supporting these growing firms as we work together to complete storm water management and green infrastructure projects across Prince George’s County.”

The program provides: coaching, training, access to bid opportunities, capital, bonding, certification, and other supportive services, added the press release.  

The Mentor Protégé Program includes contract awards to multiple firms with expertise in construction, landscaping, and maintenance in approximately $23 million in expenditures.

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Cristina Tuser