Member News

ROCHESTER, NY — The Rochester Hispanic Business Association (RHBA) has launched Built to Scale, a new pilot initiative designed to help established construction businesses compete for larger contracts, strengthen their operational capacity, and expand opportunities throughout the Greater Rochester region.

Built to Scale was developed to address a critical gap in the local business development ecosystem. While many programs focus on helping entrepreneurs start businesses, fewer resources exist for established contractors seeking to grow their operations, pursue larger projects, and compete more effectively in commercial, institutional, and public-sector markets.

The cohort-based program will provide participating businesses with targeted training, peer learning, industry connections, and practical tools focused on procurement readiness and business growth.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our regional economy, but many established contractors face barriers when trying to access larger opportunities," said Orlando Rivera, President of the Rochester Hispanic Business Association. "Built to Scale reflects RHBA's commitment to helping local businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen our regional construction ecosystem. By investing in contractor development today, we're helping build a stronger and more competitive marketplace for tomorrow."

Across Rochester and Buffalo, organizations collectively spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on construction, maintenance, and operations projects. Yet many projects continue to rely on a limited contractor pool, reducing competition and limiting opportunities for growth among smaller businesses.

Built to Scale seeks to address those challenges by preparing contractors to better navigate procurement processes, strengthen business systems, and position themselves for larger projects and subcontracting opportunities.

Program topics will include:

• Bid / no-bid decision making
• Understanding RFPs and procurement processes
• Estimating and pricing strategies
• Bonding, insurance, and compliance requirements
• Working with general contractors and institutional clients
• Business systems and operational readiness for growth

"Organizations across the region are looking for qualified contractors that can successfully perform larger projects," said Mario Roque, Program Lead for Built to Scale. "Our goal is to help more local businesses become contract-ready by addressing the real-world challenges that often prevent smaller firms from competing for larger opportunities. Stronger contractors ultimately benefit everyone by increasing competition, improving project outcomes, and strengthening the regional economy."

To ensure the program reflects real-world market needs, RHBA is currently gathering input from organizations that regularly engage contractors, including:

• General contractors
• Developers
• Healthcare organizations
• Higher education institutions
• Government agencies
• Corporate and nonprofit organizations
• Facilities and procurement professionals

Survey responses will help identify contractor readiness gaps, procurement requirements, and opportunities to strengthen the regional construction marketplace.

Organizations interested in providing feedback can complete the survey here.

Construction businesses interested in learning more about the program can visit: https://rochesterhba.org/built-to-scale

Screening of applications for the inaugural Built to Scale cohort will begin in August.

About the Rochester Hispanic Business Association

The Rochester Hispanic Business Association (RHBA) is dedicated to supporting business growth, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity throughout the Greater Rochester region. Through strategic partnerships, networking, advocacy, and business development initiatives, RHBA works to strengthen local businesses and create pathways to long-term economic success.