Skanska Leverages Airport Project Success to Expand Small Business Outreach

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-08-14

Construction firm Skanska is adapting its outreach strategies for local disadvantaged business enterprises following the completion of hiring targets at Los Angeles International Airport.

Construction contractor Skanska has met its workforce hiring goals on a major infrastructure project at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting company officials to highlight expanding opportunities for local Disadvantaged Business Enterprises under updated federal rules.

Teresa Maxwell, a compliance officer leading small business outreach at Skanska, outlined the company’s strategic efforts to connect with localized subcontractors. The initiative focuses on building early relationships with diverse businesses before regional construction projects officially open for bidding, ensuring small firms have time to prepare required documentation.

Recent regulatory updates to federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs altered certification criteria, personal net worth caps, and compliance tracking standards. Industry officials consider these modifications a significant shift, intended to streamline participation requirements for minority-owned, women-owned, and socially disadvantaged businesses seeking public infrastructure contracts.

During the Los Angeles airport project, Skanska employed localized workshops, technical assistance programs, and direct mentoring to help smaller vendors meet strict bonding and safety standards. Company executives reported that early engagement allowed the project team to fulfill and exceed local labor quotas and subcontracting allocations.

Skanska plans to integrate this outreach framework into future commercial and civil construction projects nationwide. Specialized compliance teams are currently deploying regional database tools designed to track qualified subcontractors and match them with upcoming federally funded contracts.