Making connections is at the heart of what Metro does. It connects riders to jobs, health care, shopping, entertainment, places of worship and more. It connects employers, nonprofits and municipalities to the customers and stakeholders they serve.
But it also connects companies — particularly small businesses — to opportunities through its robust vendor and supplier development efforts. This creates pathways for service providers to partner not just with Metro but with a network of companies both large and small.
On April 30, the regional transit leader will convene businesses interested in building out the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, called MetroRapid, an industry-leading service that’s being called a game-changer for Hamilton County. Businesses, suppliers and community partners are invited to the Small Business Networking Event to connect and learn how they can play a role in the construction of this infrastructure undertaking. (See registration link below.)
“BRT will be a transformational project for our region,” said Sharyn LaCombe, Metro’s senior director of Bus Rapid Transit. “It will bring real economic benefits and reinvestment in our neighborhoods that need infrastructure development. We want to invest in our community that supports us and incubate jobs for the local economy.”
The event is a chance for construction managers, contractors and related companies to explore partnerships for two significant BRT contracts. For the project’s 9.2-mile Reading Road corridor —the first to be built, with an anticipated 2028 debut — that translates into $167 million in contracts. The Hamilton Avenue corridor involves an additional 13 miles of BRT lines, with $172 million in contract opportunities.
Attendees can network with representatives from Metro and other companies, as well as officials from the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and Ohio Department of Transportation, said Tara Walker, Metro’s senior manager of diversity & inclusion.
“BRT will positively impact a lot of people and businesses, including the construction industry,” Walker said. “We’ll have a lot of need for vendor participation. This is a chance to get everyone in the same room and help small businesses make connections.”
The event focuses solely on construction service providers, not providers of goods, LaCombe said. Interested companies don’t need to provide a pricing proposal yet.
“The real purpose is to notify construction businesses about this opportunity, ensure we have the best providers in our pipeline and help smaller local companies pair up with big contractors,” she said.
It’s all part of Metro’s commitment to the region and the opportunities made possible by Hamilton County voters’ support through Issue 7, Walker said. “We made a promise, and we’re always fulfilling it,” she said.
“We have heard loud and clear from the community that this is important. Making connections and building bridges are paramount to success.” Interested in learning more?
Register for the April 30 Small Business Networking Event at: Connect. Collaborate. Grow with Metro. Tickets, Wed, Apr 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connect-collaborate-grow-with-metro-tickets-1311898657199?aff=oddtdtcreator
