Four events and hundreds of participants later, the Allegheny County Airport Authority is preparing to host its fifth Industry Day and Airport Small Business Fair, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 25 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

This time, the event will focus on construction of the new terminal and multi-modal complex – two components of the airport’s billion-dollar Terminal Modernization Program – which will get underway this summer.

About 90 percent of prime construction contracts including foundations, structural steel, baggage handling system, building enclosure and roadway construction, are expected to be awarded by the end of the year. The airport team will present more detailed information on the packages and be available for one-on-one discussions with potential bidders.

The objective is to encourage local involvement and connect larger firms with smaller firms to further refine the airport’s modernization vision. That collaboration has been essential to keeping the program on schedule, said Chief Development Officer Paul Hoback.

“We have made progress like no other airport,” Hoback said. “We’ve hit our target dates and we continue attracting top talent to this project.”

Additionally, the event’s small business fair focuses on procurement opportunities with the Airport Authority and networking opportunities for disadvantaged business enterprises. Staff from various airport departments — including Business Development, Public Safety, Operations & Maintenance, Sustainability & Natural Resources, Finance, Engineering and Planning & Capital Development — will be on hand to answer questions.

From disadvantaged business certification classes and outreach events like last summer’s Vendor Product Pitch Fair, the TMP team is working to ensure that the new facilities capture the essence of Pittsburgh.

“All the community engagement is helping us build an airport for Pittsburgh and by Pittsburgh,” said Hoback, who spent the previous 10 years in charge of airport facilities and maintenance.

The modernization program, announced in September 2017, is expected to generate nearly $2 billion in economic activity and bring nearly 11,000 direct and indirect jobs to the region, including about 1,450 construction jobs over the next three years.

“As the front door to this region for almost 10 million passengers each year, we have to give this airport the attention it deserves and make it the proper first and last impression,” Hoback said. “We have a great opportunity to transform our facilities for the future of the airport and the region.”

To register for Industry Day #5, click here.