Miami International Airport is one of the top five US airports for awarding contracts to new small businesses, according to a recently released audit by the US Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General.

 

MIA’s new North Terminal Marketplace area, scheduled to open this winter between gates D-24 and D-26, will add six more new ACDBE firms that will provide Caribbean and Mediterranean food, stone crabs, empanadas and Cuban-style cigars, in an effort to celebrate Miami-Dade County’s diverse demographics.

 

MIA was highlighted in the audit as one of the few airports that conducts regular outreach events to inform contractors and vendors about upcoming business opportunities and offers educational programmes to help DBEs understand the airport bidding and certification process.

 

Miami International Airport’s North Terminal.

 

MORE TO COME

“We are extremely proud of our track record for small business participation at MIA, and we look forward to adding even more,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “As the top economic engine in Miami-Dade County, MIA generates more than $32bn in revenue, with small businesses receiving a significant percentage of that income.”

 

MIA added seven new disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) and airport concession DBE (ACDBE) firms in fiscal year 2012, which was the third-highest number among 64 of the nation’s largest airports.

 

MIA and the other four top airports accounted for nearly half of the 83 new DBE/ACDBE firms receiving contracts at 64 of the largest US airports in fiscal year 2012, with only Phoenix (14) and Atlanta (10) adding more.