Capacity Building Program | The MWBE Conference

Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB

Capacity-Building Bootcamps

Funded by: The M&T Bank Community Foundation

About Us

The Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity-Building Bootcamps are a year-round program designed to help small, minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses get ready for contracts. The program was designed as an extension to the Buffalo Niagara MWBE Training Day Conference & Expo.

This program is for service providers, suppliers, creatives, consultants, trades, and professionals, not just construction.

This is where we take a deep dive and shine the light on business opportunities that are available for your diverse business.

How Does This Work?

This is not a one-day workshop.
This is not surface-level information.
This is not learning in isolation.

The Capacity-Building Bootcamps and Industry labs are designed to help MWBE and SDVOB businesses:

Understand their business beyond certification
Prepare for real opportunities before they appear
Learn how agencies, institutions, and primes actually buy
Build systems, strategy, and confidence to scale responsibly
Connect with peers, procurement professionals, and the ecosystem consistently

This program blends education, culture, and community because diverse businesses, often have to build differently.

Where do I Start?

Kickoff Event:

The Illuminate Experience

January 7 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Oakk Haus - Downtown Buffalo
A New York State–Certified MWBE-Owned Upscale Lounge

The Illuminate Experience is the official kickoff and information session for the Capacity-Building Bootcamps. Attendees will learn the structure, expectations, and focus areas of the program while connecting with the community in an elevated, welcoming environment.

Monthly Bootcamp Sessions

After the kickoff, bootcamps will be held:

One Wednesday per month
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The Hub is Oakk Haus
Featuring music, culture, and relaxed but intentional learning spaces

Each month includes:

One focused bootcamp session
Practical instruction and real-world insight
Peer accountability and check-ins
Opportunities to connect with trainers, agencies, and partners
Optional Capacity/ Industry Labs

RSVP

What We’ll Be Covering

Bootcamp topics will rotate throughout the year and include:

Understanding your business capacity and readiness
Finding and evaluating opportunities (even ones that feel “out of reach”)
How procurement works across agencies and institutions
Positioning, partnering, and teaming strategically
Preparing for growth: systems, staffing, and structure
Reading between the lines of solicitations and expectations
Building confidence, consistency, and long-term sustainability

Sessions will feature experienced trainers, procurement professionals, and ecosystem partners who bring real insight, not just theory.

Join Now

What Makes This Different?

Some of the most meaningful learning and connections happen in relaxed, real environments — not traditional classrooms.

- The MWBE Coach

Learning happens in relaxed environment, MWBE and SDVOB owned companies are patronized and supported, throughout.
Education is paired with culture, music, and community
No talking over people’s heads; plain language, real examples
Built for certified businesses ready to grow, not just start
Designed to build relationships before opportunities, not after...
Training from Experienced Peers in the Industry

We Break This Down — So You Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Let’s be honest:

A lot of money gets left on the table not because businesses aren’t good, but because the process feels too complicated.

Bids feel confusing.

Contracts/ RFPs and Bidding can feel intimidating.
The language feels like it wasn’t written for you.

That’s where we come in.

You're Not Alone

If you’ve ever felt like:

“I know there’s money out there, but I don’t want to mess this up.”

That’s exactly why this program exists.

We break it down.
We walk with you.
We help push you forward;

step by step.

This Is Not About Handouts

This program isn’t about giving you something for nothing.

It’s about:

Doing the work that strengthens your business
Making smart moves instead of rushed ones
Building systems that increase your bottom line
Positioning yourself to win consistently

We bring the education, the connections, and the pathway.

You bring the commitment!

What We Do Differently

We slow it down, break it apart, and explain it in real terms — so you can move forward with confidence instead of confusion.

That means:

No talking over your head
No assuming you already “should know” something
No pressure to figure it out alone

We walk through:

What opportunities actually make sense for your business
What paperwork matters and what doesn’t
How to avoid common mistakes that cost businesses time and money
How to prepare before opportunities show up

Because the goal isn’t to apply to everything.
The goal is to apply strategically, and win.

To Fuel Your Capacity!

To encourage consistency and real engagement, we’ll be recognizing one participant with the $1,000 Illuminate Capacity Award at the end of the program.

This isn’t about who’s biggest, it’s about who shows up, does the work, and grows.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I have to be certified to attend?

No.
While this program is designed with MWBE and SDVOB businesses in mind, you do not need to be certified to attend. If you’re thinking about certification or want to understand whether it makes sense for your business, this program can help you figure that out.

Is this only for construction businesses?

Not at all.
These bootcamps are for all industries, including:

Professional services
Consulting
Creative and marketing services
Hospitality and food services
Healthcare and wellness
IT and technology
Suppliers and vendors
Trades and service providers

If your business provides a product or service, this program is for you.

What exactly will I learn?

You’ll learn how to:

Understand your business more clearly
Find and evaluate real opportunities
Prepare before contracts and opportunities open
Work with agencies and institutions confidently
Avoid common mistakes that cost businesses time and money

Everything is broken down in plain language, with real examples.

Is this too advanced for me?

No, and that’s the point.

This program is designed so you don’t feel:

Behind
Embarrassed
Overwhelmed
Talked over

We meet you where you are and help you build from there.

Do I have to attend every month?

The bootcamps are designed to build on each other, so businesses that show up regularly tend to:

Get more clarity
Build stronger relationships
Make faster progress
Get the most value from the program

That said, we understand that business owners are busy. If you miss a session, you won’t be penalized, but showing up consistently helps you stay connected and move forward.

Is this a lecture or can I ask questions?

You can, and should, ask questions.

Sessions are interactive and designed to allow:

Q&A
Discussion
Real conversation
Peer learning

This is not a “sit quietly and listen” environment.

Will this help me get contracts?

We don’t promise overnight wins.

What we do promise is to help you:

Get ready for contracts
Understand which opportunities make sense
Avoid applying blindly
Build confidence and strategy over time

Readiness leads to wins — and this program is built around readiness.

Is this program free?

Yes. The Capacity-Building Bootcamps are free to attend.

From time to time, there may be optional events, partner programs, or additional opportunities offered outside of the bootcamp sessions that may have a fee.

Participation in those extras is completely optional. All details will always be shared clearly and in advance.

There will never be surprise charges, and you are free to opt out of any optional activities.

Where are the bootcamps held?

Bootcamps are held in New York State–certified MWBE-owned venues, starting with Oakk Haus in downtown Buffalo, which is our Hub for the Capacity Building Program.

We intentionally host sessions in certified businesses to support and spotlight them.

Is this networking?

Yes, but not awkward networking.

Connections happen naturally through:

Conversation
Shared learning
Group discussions
Community settings

No forced introductions. No pressure.

Who is organizing this program?

The program is produced by The RARE Place, Inc. in partnership with MWBE Constructors, Inc. and Blueprint The Culture™ Media Group, with support from the M&T Bank Community Foundation and local MWBE partners.

How do I get involved?

You can:

Attend the Illuminate Experience
Join monthly bootcamp sessions
Sign up for updates
Express interest as a trainer, partner, or participant

Sponsors and Strategic Sponsors