The Charleston County Aviation Authority launches database designed to identify women- and minority-owned companies interested in doing business with its 3 airports

North Charleston, S.C., 2015-10-20 — /Travel PR News/ — The Charleston County Aviation Authority has created a database designed to identify women- and minority-owned companies interested in future business opportunities with the CCAA and its three airports.

The initiative is one of several undertaken by the CCAA in 2015 to build partnerships in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Earlier this year, the CCAA launched an internship program aimed at college students interested in aviation-related careers, affirmed its commitment to identifying qualified minority applicants for CCAA jobs and created the director of community relations position to oversee those initiatives as well as develop and foster relationships in the region’s minority communities.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires U.S. airports, including the CCAA-owned Charleston International, to have a disadvantaged business enterprise program with goals for work performed by businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

“Creating this new database goes hand-in-hand with that requirement,” said Sharon McGhee, director of community relations. “We know a lot of companies already thanks to our terminal redevelopment program. But we know there are more businesses out there that may be as interested in us as we are in them. This is one way of reaching out to those companies.”

The CCAA advertises business opportunities on its web site and through a network of state and national publications and online sources. Sometimes smaller companies are not as well connected to those networks as larger businesses are, McGhee said. “This effort will help those companies become aware of business opportunities at the airports more easily.”

The database can be found under “Business Opportunities” at the bottom of www.chs-airport.com. Potential vendors will be asked to complete an online form with information about their companies. When business opportunities become available at the Aviation Authority, Charleston International Airport, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport or Charleston Executive Airport, email alerts will go to all registered vendors.

For questions about the database, contact Sharon McGhee, director of community relations, at 843-767-7000.

SOURCE: Charleston County Aviation Authority