Contractors and small business owners across Michigan are being offered a major opportunity to expand their companies into one of the region’s largest construction and concessions markets when the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) hosts a construction and concessions outreach event on Monday, Feb. 23 at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi.
The one-day event is designed to bring local and national construction contractors, subcontractors and concession owners face-to-face with the decision makers behind some of the largest upcoming infrastructure and commercial opportunities in southeastern Michigan, including at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport.
There are approximately $750 million in major contracting opportunities expected to be bid across the airport authority’s portfolio over the next two years, and the WCAA’s outreach event will walk attendees through how to compete for that work.
The morning session from 9 a.m. to noon will introduce the construction opportunities on the 2026-27 project calendar, covering major projects across airfield, landside and terminal areas. The afternoon session from 1-4 p.m. will highlight the concessions program, including the long-term strategic vision for McNamara and Evans terminals and how emerging trends are shaping future designs.
“This is more than a networking meeting — it’s a vital bridge for local and national businesses to ensure that all, from small businesses to industry leaders, have an opportunity to share their expertise and help us maintain an airport environment that everyone enjoys,” said WCAA CEO Chad Newton.
Both sessions will offer detailed guidance on procurement, including solicitation, bidding, award procedures and contract management. Registration is required and will remain open through Thursday, Feb. 19.
For Black-owned businesses, particularly those certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) or Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBE), this event could be transformational.
The airport authority’s DBE/ACDBE programs aim to give maximum opportunity for disadvantaged firms to participate in construction and concessions contracts, with support from certification through training and networking to help businesses that historically have been under-represented win federal and local work at the airport hub.
There are real examples in Michigan of how DBE status and targeted outreach can lead to business growth. Rowe Trucking, LLC, a Detroit-based Black-owned trucking company, has said that becoming DBE-certified helped it “get our foot in the door on many Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects,” leading to work hauling materials for major state road construction contracts.
Another DBE-certified company, Value Engineering in Lansing, expanded its engineering consultancy services to both public agencies and private developers following work through state transportation contracts, which is enabling the firm to open offices in downtown Lansing and Detroit and grow its team.
Experts say that for Black entrepreneurs in construction and concessions, understanding how to navigate the procurement process and build relationships with prime contractors and agencies can be the difference between remaining on the margins of big projects and becoming key players in multimillion-dollar work.
The outreach event at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace will help interested firms access that knowledge, meet potential partners and position themselves for bidding on work that could drive growth for years.
The invitation is open to all local and national firms, contractors, engineering firms, consultants, vendors, small business enterprises and disadvantaged business enterprise firms seeking aviation industry opportunities. For Black-owned enterprises ready to expand beyond smaller local projects, the scale and variety of work becoming available through WCAA – ranging from heavy civil construction to retail and hospitality concessions –represents one of the most significant openings in the region’s business landscape.
To register for the event, visit https://wcaaoutreachdayfeb2026.rsvpify.com/.
