Salt River Project and Arizona State University are offering a Small Business Academy that provides mentorship, training and networking opportunities for small businesses interested in expanding capacity and learning how to compete for contracts with public agencies and private companies.
The academy runs for six weeks and includes weekly sessions beginning January 22. The program is designed for small businesses in industries including materials distributors, engineering services, substation construction, apparatus and electrical equipment manufacturing, advanced IT solutions, cybersecurity, utility scale construction services and utility-grade renewable energy components.
ASU and SRP have partnered to offer this program to Arizona’s small business community since 2007. To date, more than 300 small businesses have taken part in this program.
“This six-week program gave me something I couldn’t find anywhere else—the opportunity to openly discuss challenges, ask real questions, and learn directly from advisors with more than 20 years of experience across corporate America and small-business leadership” says Dana Barriger, President of Station Power Construction LLC. “One of the most impactful aspects was the one-on-one access to advisors, allowing for honest, real-time feedback you simply don’t get at typical networking events. The tools, guidance, and exposure went far beyond exchanging business cards, and the opportunity to pitch my business provided the visibility I was seeking.”
Small businesses can register here by January 21 to participate in the program. There will also be an opportunity to compete for up to $20,000 in funding through a pitch contest at the end of the program.
SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving about 1.1 million customers. SRP provides water to about 2.5 million Valley residents, delivering more than 260 billion gallons of water (800,000 acre-feet) each year, and manages a 13,000-square-mile watershed that includes an extensive system of reservoirs, wells, irrigation laterals, and 131 miles of canals.
