DFW International Airport Sponsors 20th Annual Texas Publishers Association Convention

AUSTIN, Texas – (March 27, 2006) – Minority, women and disadvantaged (MWBE) businesses earned more than $650 million at DFW International Airport in its recently completed Capital Development Program, making it one of the most successful business opportunities of its kind in Texas. DFW's Small and Emerging Business Vice President Don O’Bannon will address the Texas Publishers Association on Friday, March 31 and discuss the massive business project and the value the Airport places on reaching a diverse business community. DFW is also a sponsor of the 20th Annual Texas Publisher’s Association Convention in Austin, Texas March 30 through April 1. TPA represents more than two-dozen African-American newspapers and editors across the state.

“DFW has demonstrated its dedication to diversity through its outreach to the minority and women owned business community,” said Will Hobdy, President of the Texas Publishers Association. “DFW has taken it to a new level locally and nationally. DFW is a model for how to bring in minority partners and get the job done. When a minority business wins a contract with DFW the whole community wins. A DFW contract means more jobs, greater capitalization, and an infusion of hope for even greater opportunities to build on. It's important that our readers, our constituents and our communities are aware of the immense role DFW plays in our state's economy. ” 

The $650 million in MWBE contracts as part of the $2.8 billion Capital Development Program helped build DFW's new International Terminal D, Skylink - the world's largest airport train - the Grand Hyatt hotel as well as a number of important runway improvements. 

An economic survey of DFW’s MWBE program released in November 2005 found that MWBE concessionaires created $431 million in regional economic activity and added $157 million to regional labor income between Sept. of 2002 and Sept. of 2005. In addition, concessions at DFW have generated more than $559 million in revenue over a three year study period with some $287 million of that total generate by MWBE concessionaires. Those same businesses employ more than 2,200 local residents and contribute more than $85.6 million in state and local taxes. 

DFW’s outstanding Small and Emerging Business Department has helped DFW’s MWBE concessionaires generate over $266 million in economic activity for disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned enterprises. 

“Our Board has a vision and given a mandate for our Airport to reflect the immense diversity of our region and I am very proud of the efforts made by DFW in increasing MWBE participation in airport business opportunities,” said O’Bannon. “Small businesses are always very interested in hearing about the opportunities available at the Airport. Often the business is able to leverage the work at DFW to open the door for even more work as they develop close working relationships with numerous other Airport businesses.” 

“DFW has worked hard to remove the barriers that keep some businesses out of the market for our contracts by establishing mechanisms to remove bonding obstacles and improve cash flow for the small contractors,” continued O’Bannon. 

The Small & Emerging Business Department was created at DFW in 1987 in an effort to increase access of small and emerging businesses to DFW’s public contracts. Using race-neutral measurements such as general outreach, targeted outreach and technical assistance to ensure a broad cross section of the business community has access to the airports contracts. 

"DFW is pleased to participate with this respected media organization that reaches African-Americans in communities across Texas," says Ken Capps, vice president of public affairs at DFW. "As the economic engine of North Texas and one of the key economic indicators for the entire state, DFW wants to communicate with diverse audiences and inform them of the business, jobs and opportunities generated by our Airport that benefit all of Texas."