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2001 Public/Private Partnership Awards MAYOR
BILL CAMPBELL, CITY OF ATLANTA OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD Known as “Possibility City”,
Atlanta stands out among metropolitan areas for its progressive efforts to
promote opportunities among the many communities it serves, particularly small
and minority groups that have been traditionally underrepresented. As a federally designated Empowerment Zone
(EZ), the City of Atlanta has made great strides to provide economic
opportunities, sustainable development and a strategic vision for change for
its residents. United Water, as the operator
of Atlanta’s water system, has taken a proactive role in supporting the City’s
improvement efforts to achieve the growth and development objectives identified
by the EZ. Since contract operations
began in January 1999, United Water has led by example, regularly exceeding the
required 37% minority/woman business enterprise participation levels. To mirror the City’s
outstanding affirmative action efforts, United Water has developed an extensive
community and minority-business outreach program representing the diversity of
the City’s residents, from school children to business owners. Representative programs include: In December, United Water
will conduct its second annual vendor work session, Business Incentives in the Atlanta Empowerment Zone. Designed to educate small and minority
businesses within the EZ, participants are provided with an overview of the EZ
program and offered workshops covering various federal and state incentives and
tax credits available to companies doing business in an EZ. Seventeen local vendors attended last year’s
fair and offered enthusiastic evaluations on the productive benefits of the
program. Minority Vendor Recruitment To better inform vendors of current and future
opportunities related to United Water’s Atlanta project, a recruitment
initiative targeting Asian and Hispanic subcontractors and suppliers was
implemented. Feedback from this effort, which was supported by the City of
Atlanta Office of Contract Compliance, was very positive. A clearly measurable
benefit from this effort was recognized in the award of two new contracts to
both an Asian and a Hispanic vendor. United Water continues to recruit minority
and women-owned businesses from the local business community, and is dedicated
to hosting and attending local vendor fairs as part of our commitment to the
Atlanta business community. Partnership with Clark Atlanta University United Water and Clark
Atlanta University have joined in a collaborative research partnership to
promote technology transfer and intellectual exchange under the auspices of the
Institute for Water Resource Development. United Water provided start-up
funding to support the initial activities, including development of a Water
Certification Program; development of research proposals with United Water
research staff; and development of a Watershed Assessment Program for the City
of Atlanta. Adopt-a-School Internship Program UWSA implemented its
successful second-year summer internship program with George Washington Carver
High School, located within the EZ. In
1999 there were seven students enrolled in the program -- the number of
students more than tripled to 24 this year.
Over a period of ten weeks, students work in “real” jobs, providing
coverage in operations, maintenance, accounting, laboratory and clerical/receptionist
functions. In addition to basic work
skills and ethics, students receive counseling on personal finance and career
development; and are exposed to a variety of visiting professionals who review
their career and educational histories.
A United Water employee serves as a mentor throughout the program,
outlining weekly goals and implementing a learning plan for each student. Through
continued participation in these programs, and the development of other
beneficial programs designed to promote the involvement of small, minority and
woman-owned businesses, United Water is committed to serving its client and the
entire Atlanta community as they go forward and strive to achieve their goals
for economic and social growth in the next century. |