DENVER, CO — Tuesday, February 12, 2019 — Today, the City and County of Denver announced the move of the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program from the Denver Office of Economic Development’s Division of Small Business Opportunity (DSBO) to Denver International Airport (DEN). The Federal Aviation Administration-supported program certifies and assists disadvantaged and minority owned businesses in launching airport-focused operations.
“This move is about ensuring equity and opportunity,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Denver is committed to championing the success of our small businesses, especially at our nation’s 5th busiest airport.”
The ACDBE program includes 402 certified firms, with approximately 20% directly participating in operations at the airport, bringing in $166 million in concessions revenue in 2018 alone. The program is currently operated under split authority, with DSBO in charge of certification and compliance and the airport conducting outreach and training. The move will consolidate all ACDBE operations under the airport’s Commerce Hub with the goal of improving the program’s efficiency while providing additional support services and oversight for ACDBE concessionaires and their partners.
“The airport will have significant numbers of new airport contract opportunities in 2019 due to the airport’s growth and resulting expansion and redevelopment,” said DEN CEO Kim Day. “This move is aimed to provide the most support possible for concessionaires at DEN in order to help them achieve real and lasting economic success.”
The ACDBE program is one subset of the work done by the Office of Economic Development’s DSBO program which works closely with hundreds of small, minority and women-owned businesses in Denver to help them build the relationships and capacity needed to bid for and work on city construction, professional services, and goods and services contracts.
“DEN has been a great partner in this work and we know this consolidation of ACDBE program under one roof will positively affect the outcomes for the community,” said Eric Hiraga, Executive Director for the Denver Office of Economic Development. “Our DSBO program will continue to focus on our core mission of improving access to opportunities for all small, minority and women-owned businesses interested in working with the city.”
Earlier this week, the Denver Office of Economic Development named a new DSBO program director, Adrina Gibson, who brings a wealth of local experience promoting diversity and inclusion, and will serve as a strong advocate for small, minority, and women-owned businesses in Denver. They will also be bolstering the program by adding two new positions.
The ACDBE transition will be finalized in March; additional information regarding changes to certification and other program components will be provided on flydenver.com. For questions please contact Seneca Holmes at Seneca.holmes@flydenver.com, or 303-342-2242.
The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce.
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