(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is celebrating the launch of its inaugural BuildLAX Academy, a new program designed to prepare small contracting businesses for success when working on projects at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). With major construction programs now beginning or on the horizon as part of LAWA's multi-billion dollar capital improvement program, including the LAX Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) and the Midfield Satellite Concourse, LAWA's demand for contractors will increase the need for qualified contracting businesses. BuildLAX will help meet that need by helping contractors gain familiarity with LAWA's contracting procedures.

The BuildLAX Academy offers an eight-week curriculum that details what small business contractors need to know about working with LAWA and its prime contractors, from project planning and labor compliance to requirements governing inclusivity and bonding. The program is free, with courses held each Thursday until August 1.

"For a new contractor, working with a municipal department as big as Los Angeles World Airports can feel like a big project by itself," said Bob Gilbert, Chief Development Officer, LAWA. "With BuildLAX, we can connect with local small business contractors to help them build a successful business while helping to build the future of LAX."

BuildLAX is the latest program offered by LAWA to help more Angelenos who own small businesses in the construction industry, especially those from areas surrounding LAX, successfully navigate and find contracting opportunities with LAWA. Other programs include the LAWA Small Business Matchmaking Seminar, which directly connected prospective subcontractors and suppliers with prime contractors, and well as its monthly "How to Do Business with LAWA" workshops, which provide training for prospective contractors and vendors. LAWA also offers the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades.

Following completion of the BuildLAX program, participating contractors will be better able to navigate LAWA's procurement process and understand and comply with contract requirements.

A total of 27 small businesses are participating in the first BuildLAX Academy. The complete schedule includes courses in project planning; project labor agreement (PLA), local hire and labor compliance; surety bonds and insurance; construction management and project administration. Courses are led by representatives from LAWA, LAWA's prime contractors and other professionals associated with LAWA and its contractors.

Though the first class academy is full, interested small contracting businesses can email businessandjobs@lawa.org to indicate interest in enrolling in the next academy class.

LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.  

LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named  a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.   

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.