The I-4 Ultimate project can be a small-business gold mine

If you own a small business in Central Florida I hope you’re doing your homework to cash in on the I-4 Ultimate project.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few months the I-4 Ultimate project is probably the biggest road building project in Central Florida since I 4 was built in the 1960s. It involves widening 21 miles of I 4 between Kirkman Road in Orlando to State Road 434 in Seminole County. In addition to adding express lanes to the interstate the project includes rebuilding 15 major interchanges, widening 13 bridges, replacing 74 bridges and adding 53 bridges.

Work begins early next year and won’t be finished until 2021. The price tag? $2.3 billion. Yep, you read that right – billion.

Project leaders describe I-4 Ultimate as a “dirt and diesel” job requiring huge trucks and bulldozers moving mountains of earth.

OK, so you’re not in the construction business and you’re thinking: What’s in it for me?

Considering that there’s more than $2 billion on the table, there could be a lot in it for your business.

In addition to a wide variety construction specialties, they will need:

Janitorial services

Office supplies

 Progress photos

·        Equipment rental

·        Office trailers

·        Catering and much more

Construction leaders say segments of the project will be broken down in bite-sized pieces to give small businesses opportunities to get manageable portions of the work. They encourage businesses to partner to pool resources, knowledge and experience to get work. As this is a government project, there will be generous portions of work available for certified minority and disadvantaged business owners.

Think about it. This project will last for at least 6 years. Imagine what it could mean for you if your business can get a bite of this pie.

So what’s the first step?

Get educated by clicking here to visit the project’s website.

Next step, click here to get registered as a vendor.

Now grab your hard hat and let’s get going.

This post was written by David Porter, principal and owner of David Porter Communications Inc., an Orlando public relations and marketing company that works with small businesses. The firm also owns www.SunRailRiders.com and www.B2BFlorida.com