Caltrans Central Region Calmentor Program

CALTRANS CENTRAL REGION CALMENTOR PROGRAM - DISTRICTS 5, 6, and 10. The Caltrans Central Region Calmentor Program serves District 5 counties: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz; District 6 counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare; District 10 counties: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne. The mission of the Calmentor Program is to increase the pool of small firms participating in transportation projects by providing them opportunities to network and partner with larger, established firms from the A/E Industry. The program is meant to foster meaningful relationships between firms, with mentors offering protégés education, training, and networking opportunities. The program is consistent with CA Executive Order S-11-06, to encourage new businesses, grow existing businesses, and promote small and emerging business contracting with the State of California. Calmentor supports the participation of non-Certified firms, in-process Certified firms, and Certified firms including Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBE) firms in the Central Region. Voluntary participation in the program is through acceptance and screening of completed applications and agreements from mentors and protégés. Participants of the Calmentor Central Region Program are Mentors, Protégés, Sponsors, and/or Steering Committee members. Mentors are established A&E industry firms who are typically prime consultants willing to commit time to help firms achieve their growth potential. Protégés are firms who are seeking to pursue and to expand their understanding of A&E contracts with Caltrans or with other public agencies. Caltrans Calmentor Central Region is the program's primary sponsor whose aim is to facilitate the growth of certified firms. Any public agency or local organization may join to co-sponsor the Program.