Opportunity Downtown is a program administered by the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center to ensure that minorities and women have unimpeded access to the employment, contracting, and subcontracting opportunities that are created as part of the Lower Manhattan rebuilding effort.

The program has three primary goals: to alert minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) to contracting and subcontracting opportunities associated with downtown construction; to connect interested individuals -- minorities, women, and veterans returning from war -- with available jobs; and to monitor for and guard against discrimination or harassment on downtown construction job sites.

In an effort to achieve these goals, the program calls for the creation of a Lower Manhattan Opportunity Committee, which will bring together representatives from all agencies involved in the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan to foster greater communication about ways to increase participation by minorities and women in the rebuilding effort.

Additionally, the Opportunity Downtown program will establish procedures and develop databases to aid in outreach to minority- and women-owned firms, groups, and individuals; promote New York City and State certification for eligible MWBEs; and monitor for and address barriers to participation and/or discriminatory working conditions within the downtown construction effort.

About the Program Director, Beverly Bobb

Sign up to recieve the LMCCC Opportunity Downtown E-Update, click here.

Upcoming Events

Professional Workshop Series

Join us for a series of three workshops covering the essential tools for your business

Green/Sustainability & LEED for Contractors - Wednesday, September 23rd
Access to Capital, Bonding & Financial Assistance - Wednesday, October 7th
Affordable Marketing Strategies - Monday, October 26th

Click to download the event flyer.

All events are Breakfast 8:30am – 12:00pm

All the workshops are held at:
Turner Training Facility
Saatchi & Saatchi Building
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014

Updated Website

New York State Division of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development

You will find information related to the certification process, resources for technical assistance, access to capital, contract opportunities, MWBE Events, and an improved vendor registry search tool to help you find New York State certified MWBEs.

The mission of the "DMWBD" is to promote equality of economic opportunities for MWBEs and to eliminate barriers to their participation in state contracts.

For more information on the New York State Division of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development click here.