For Immediate Release: August 19, 2008

Thruway Authority Promotes Business Opportunities for Upstate Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises at Great New York State Fair

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that as part of its commitment to providing opportunities to upstate Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) the Authority, in cooperation with the Empire State Development Corporation, Office of General Service (OGS), Dormitory Authority (DASNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY), will be hosting an information booth at The Great New York State Fair.

“To help promote Governor Paterson’s goal of providing increased opportunities to minority and women-owned business enterprises, the Authority will be handing out information to interested Fair goers regarding how to do business with the State,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleisher. “The Authority is committed to eliminating barriers and leveling the playing field for MWBE firms.”

Governor David A. Paterson recently signed an executive order that will increase the utilization of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) underwriters for the State’s debt offerings sold on a negotiated basis, and develop transparent performance measures to govern the selection of underwriters for these transactions.

As part of this Executive Order, the Authority participates on a Task Force charged with evaluating the current procurement guidelines and performance measures, and making recommendations for new practices used to select MWBE underwriters.

All parties that are interested in learning how to do business with New York State agencies and authorities are encouraged to visit the information booth, located in the Verizon Center for Progress Building, on Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22, and Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

The 162nd Annual Great New York State Fair runs from Thursday, August 21, 2008, through Monday, September 1, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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The Authority offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway.  To sign up for the TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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