High Speed Rail:

Small Business Industry Forum

 

The Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County is co-hosting an industry forum that will give private businesses the chance to learn more about the California High Speed Rail project in which construction is scheduled to begin in the Central Valley. Attendees will also learn about the bidding process and how they can participate in the project.This is an opportunity for small businesses to interact with and ask questions of California High Speed Rail Authority officials. This forum will also bring entrepreneurs and small businesses together with major contractors to discuss working together on the California High Speed Rail project.

September 8, 2011
Save Mart Center (Fresno, CA)
8:30am - 3:30pm
Register HERE

Please read the following letter from Roelof van Ark, CEO of the California High Speed Rail Authority:

August 11, 2011 Dear Interested Party, It is a pleasure to invite you to a high-speed rail industry forum set for September 8, 2011, at the Save Mart Center on the California State University, Fresno campus: 2650 E Shaw Ave Fresno, CA 93710. For more information as it becomes available, an agenda and to pre-register, please visit this website:www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/forum.aspx. In collaboration with the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County and CSU Fresno, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is hosting this forum to give the private sector an opportunity to hear more about the project – the first of its kind in the nation – and the bidding process. Construction is on track to begin next year in the Central Valley. We are also providing the opportunity for firms that may be interested in submitting a proposal as a prime contractor for any of the contracts to meet with small businesses that may be interested in subcontracting with them. Firms interested in submitting a proposal as prime contractors will be able to provide a booth or kiosk in the exhibition area to meet with potential subcontractors after presentations by the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Parsons Brinckerhoff. If your firm has an interest in submitting as a prime contractor on any of the Authority’s projects and wishes to have an exhibition table or kiosk at the industry forum to meet potential subcontractors for the project, please respond to this e-mail indicating your interest no later than September 1, 2011, using “Prime Contractor Exhibit” in the subject line. We are already working with more than a dozen prospective prime contractors who have already submitted interest to host a table. Prospective primes should include complete contact information for their firm, including identification of an individual designated as the firm’s point of contact. Claudio Dallavalle of our Procurement Team will contact those individuals to finalize the necessary arrangements for your exhibition. For general inquiries about this event, please reply to this email address with “Central Valley Industry Forum” in the subject line. Thank you again, and we look forward to a very beneficial event on September 8 in Fresno. Sincerely, Roelof van Ark Chief Executive Officer California High-Speed Rail Authority 916 324 1541 • www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov

Draft Environmental Impact Reports/Statements for Central Valley Sections Available  The California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) took a major step toward the nation’s first true high-speed rail system with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement for both the Merced-to-Fresno and Fresno-to-Bakersfield sections of the project for public review and comment. Draft EIR/EIS Documents and Public Comment The full reports for both Central Valley sections and supporting documents can be found at www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov and www.fra.dot.gov. These documents analyze and disclose the potential environmental impacts and recommend mitigation measures for the construction, operation and maintenance of the 65-mile Merced-to-Fresno and 113-mile Fresno-to-Bakersfield sections of the project. Comments will be accepted by mail or email anytime during the comment period. The comment period is from (and including) August 15 to September 28, 2011. You may also request a CD-ROM of the Fresno to Bakersfield Draft EIR/EIS by calling (916) 679-2341or Merced to Fresno Draft EIR/EIS by calling (916) 414-1582. Public Workshops & Hearings The California High Speed Rail Authority will be hosting public hearings and workshops throughout the Central Valley to help the public access and better understand the contents of the Draft EIR/EIS. Information on workshop and hearing dates and time, please click here.

REMINDER! Due to budget cuts, the EDC Office will be CLOSED on Fridays.

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