California High-Speed Rail Highlights Recent Small Business Diversity & Resources Fair at UC Merced

Annual event provides opportunities for face-to-face networking, meetings with prime contractors

December 1, 2024 – MERCED, Calif. – In a spirit of gratitude, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) shares heartfelt thanks to all the small businesses collaborating, and seeking to collaborate, with this transformative project.

In case you missed it, on October 23 more than 200 small business entrepreneurs attended the Authority’s Diversity and Resources Fair held at UC Merced. At the event, representatives of these small businesses met with more than 30 prime contractors to seek opportunities to work at the nation’s first 220 mph high-speed rail project.

Open the above image to watch the Small Business Fair video.

“We received great feedback from small businesses, who said they appreciated the opportunity to meet directly with the primes’ hiring managers and that they made meaningful business connections.”

– Chardená Valley, Authority Small Business Advocate

The Authority is thankful for small businesses throughout California and works with 860 certified small businesses statewide. Some of the Authority’s small business team accomplishments in 2024 include:

• Hosting the Authority’s Meet the Prime virtual workshop series, providing small businesses with opportunities to elevate their business and network with primes who have been awarded Authority contracts.
• Partnering with the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) at SFO’s first-ever Resource Fair on February 27.
• Hosting the Authority’s Small Business Program table at “A Day in Her Shoes” event on March 7 to celebrate women in business.
• Partnering with the Capital Black Chamber of Commerce.
• Attending the Pathways to Progress Summit and Vendor Fair in Sacramento on April 25.