Purpose and Function

The Office of Small Business Development is committed to ensuring fair and open access to procurement and contracting opportunities sponsored by the School District. We support the participation of small businesses through certification programs, outreach events, training workshops, contract reviews, project readiness evaluations, bid preferences, and tailored networking opportunities.

Our goal is to promote competition by removing barriers that may limit participation. We work closely with internal departments to ensure qualified small businesses have a fair chance to compete for contracts at all procurement levels, including both prime and subcontracting roles.

OSBD Director’s Update: Equipping Small Businesses for Tomorrow’s Contracts

To expand your operations and gear up for future possibilities, I encourage you to take advantage of workflow automation, streamline your supply chains, and actively seek out government or corporate contracts. By excelling in these areas, you can lay down a robust foundation that enables revenue growth without a corresponding increase in your overall costs.

Here at the School District Office of Small Business Development (OSBD), we are proud to collaborate with small businesses across our community. Our mission is to help you navigate the District's contracting procedures and identify tangible business opportunities. We offer both virtual and in-person Meet & Greets, training sessions, and outreach events aimed at engaging and educating you on exactly how to partner with the School District of Palm Beach County.

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SBE Certifications Hit a 5-Year High!


Our Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program reached a major milestone in 2026, hitting a peak of 240 certified vendor applications processed for those eligible for SBE certification—a massive 27% jump from last year.

After a steady recovery from the pandemic and a brief dip in 2025, due to policy changes, we are officially back on a strong upward trajectory. This year's record-breaking growth was driven by three main things:

• Referendum Projects & Targeted Outreach: As capital fund referendum dollars launch new local projects, we’ve ramped up our outreach to show small businesses how getting certified directly positions them to tap into these new contracting opportunities. 
• Faster Processing: We bumped our weekly processing baseline from 5 to 6 applications, helping us clear the pipeline faster.
• Stronger Partnerships: Expanded outreach and close collaboration with partner agencies like PBC, WPB, and MDCPS brought us a steady stream of new applicants.

We are incredibly proud of this growth and look forward to helping even more local businesses succeed!

Building a Stronger Supply Chain: Expanding Opporunities Strengthening Every Trade

Our commitment to growing a stronger, more competitive supplier network is delivering measurable results.



Through targeted outreach, certification assistance, and industry-focused training, the Office of Small Business Development significantly expanded participation across nearly every construction trade during FY2025–FY2026. This growth represents more than an increase in certified businesses—it reflects a stronger pipeline of qualified subcontractors prepared to compete for District projects and support our Prime Contractors.

The most significant gains occurred in specialty trades, including metals, site work, doors and hardware, roofing, painting, HVAC, and electrical contracting,

demonstrating that our strategic investments are helping fill critical workforce and supply chain needs while creating new opportunities for small businesses.

Equally important, we modernized our certification process by updating our NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing) commodity codes throughout the applicant database. This enhancement better aligns certified firms with their actual capabilities, allowing contractors, procurement professionals, and project teams to identify qualified subcontractors more efficiently and connect businesses with opportunities that best match their expertise.

Together, these efforts are creating a more diverse, responsive, and procurement-ready supplier network—strengthening competition, increasing access to contracting opportunities, and building long-term capacity for future capital projects.



The results speak for themselves. Explore the FY2025–FY2026 trade growth analysis to see how our small business community continues to grow stronger across the construction industry.

Strategic Sourcing, Outreach, and Training Drive 25% Growth and High Win Rates in SBE Goods & Services Vendors

Our SBE Goods & Services vendor pool grew by nearly 25% this period, adding 32 brand-new certified vendors. This success comes down to a clear three-part strategy: aggressive strategic sourcing to find prospects, targeted outreach to get them certified, and hands-on training to make them bid-ready.

The data shows that this onboarding pipeline directly translates into real term contract wins:

• Plumbing & Concrete Led the Way: We focused heavily on these sectors with targeted 1-on-1 training, successfully adding 16 new certified vendors to our pool. Once in the pipeline, 100% of the SBEs who went on to bid in these categories successfully won awards (4 Plumbing, 7 Concrete, 15 Painting, and 3 Charter Bus.)
• Outreach Energized New Sectors: In areas like Travel Agencies and Toner where we previously had minimal footprint, our outreach sparked a massive 66.67% growth rate. Travel Agencies also drew the highest initial interest with 50 solicitation views.
• SBEs Finish Strong: While SBEs made up 25% of initial solicitation views, they proved highly competitive by securing 46% of all final bid awards. (Note: Final awards for Travel Agencies and Glass & Mirror remain pending.)

We're celebrating this growth and looking forward to driving success for more small businesses.

SBU Awardees - Tuesday, July 14. 2026

Three-year data showing the wide reach of SBU

Building Together: Celebrating Nine Years of Small Business University

This year, Small Business University (SBU) was a huge success. With 64 attendees receiving a Certificate of Completion, we are keeping the momentum of providing small businesses with strategies to add to their action plans for growth.



In just 8 short weeks, we spent 16 hours diving into real talk, trading growth strategies, and sharing what actually works in the trenches on our interactive virtual platform—resulting in 753 virtual check-ins by busy entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners joining us from all over the region.

SBU culminated with our closing ceremony and networking event on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Certificates were awarded, opportunities with KL, PBSC, and SDPBC were shared, and businesses engaged in matchmaking, not just networking. We wrapped up with a 30-day challenge: each entrepreneur shared one immediate commitment to keep their momentum going, proving the power of SBU. 

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Each of these projects include SBE participation requirements, creating millions in opportunities for certified small businesses.



To be counted toward these goals, your business must be certified with our office. Click the button below to learn how to get certified.

Once certified, register your business with BidNet Direct to stay apprised of upcoming District solicitations.

Click the image to view the flyer

Join us for the Matchmaking Outreach with SCEC and Hatcher Construction

Join Us for the Matchmaking Outreach Event with SCEC & Hatcher Construction!

Attention smaller subcontractors: This is your chance to discover right-sized bid packages and partnering opportunities on a huge $48 M budgeted School District of Palm Beach County project.

SCEC and Hatcher Construction have specifically broken down this major project into accessible scopes tailored for SBE firms to exceed their 20% SBE goal.

• Tuesday, August 18, 2026
• 2:00-4:00 PM
• In-person: 3300 Forest Hill Blvd. WPB, FL 33406 Thurber C&D rooms



Register below and we'll see you there!

Click the image to view the flyer

Join us for Meet the Prime with Pirtle!

Subcontractors, you need to be part of this historic project with a budget of $22 M. Many trades are needed for phase II of the Historic Roosevelt Full Service Center, and Pirtle is looking to exceed their 20% SBE goal.

Click on the flyer to view the trades needed and then register below to join this in-person outreach where you'll meet leaders at Pirtle and Randolph to learn more about this incredible project.

• Thursday, August 20, 2026
• 10:00-11:00 AM
• In-person: 1601 N Tamarind Ave

West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Register below and we'll see you there!

Click the image to view the flyer

Register today to certify your small business with OSBD!

Attention vendors! The School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) is committed to helping your business succeed. Achieve your Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification and access valuable benefits that can enhance your ability to secure contracts—whether by partnering with prime contractors or working directly with SDPBC.

Join us on

• Thursday, July 30, 2026
• 10:00-11:00AM
• Via ZOOM

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how certification can drive business growth. Make this the year you expand your opportunities.

Register today.

Click the image to view the flyer

Stay Informed: Registering Your Business with BidNet Direct!

Discover how to tap into upcoming contract opportunities with the School District of Palm Beach County through BidNet Direct—the e-procurement bid notification service. Learn how to register, receive real-time alerts, and access valuable insights into upcoming solicitations. Plus, find out how OSBD certification can help boost your visibility and opportunity.

Join us on

• Thursday, August 27, 2026
• 10:00-11:00AM
• Via ZOOM

Register today.

Save the Date!

Prepare for one of our most exciting events of the year, the 2026 Architects & Engineers Summit.

We're busy designing and building an exciting event, so be sure to mark your calendar and be on the lookout for more information coming soon.

Chuck Gableman, President and CEO, JLRD

Power Up: Building Capacity on Both Sides of the Table



For 35 years, JLRD has engineered the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems behind schools across Florida. The firm started small in 1991, and much of what it has become was shaped by its work with the School District of Palm Beach County.

Capacity building has been the throughline of that growth. For JLRD, it has meant deepening what the firm does under one roof and staying with a project from design through construction, so the engineer who designs a system stays connected to how it gets built. A District project moves through one connected team rather than a chain of handoffs. It has also meant developing the next generation of engineers and project managers, and being deliberate about the small businesses and subconsultants the firm brings alongside it.

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Luis Garcia, President, LEGO Construction

Graduated Firm: From SBE to Powerhouse Prime

Featured Expert: Luis Garcia, President of LEGO Construction

Graduating from a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program is a milestone every growing contractor dreams about. But when you cross that revenue threshold, reality hits fast. The certified status safety net disappears, and suddenly you’re in the deep end, going head-to-head against deep-pocketed national firms for open-market work.

Luis Garcia knows that shift inside and out.

What drives Mr. Garcia's success? Dive into the interview insights below.

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