When Mary F. Crawford founded Crawford Consulting Services, Inc. (CCS) on March 19, 1993 she never realized all the help she would be getting with her business from the SBA. A Certified Professional Estimator with over twenty-four years experience in the construction industry, Mary serves as President of CCS, a 100% Woman-Owned Small Business, 8(a), and Small Disadvantaged Business. Crawford Consulting Services provides cost estimating, CPM scheduling, project management, construction management, general construction, and contract support services for all phases of construction. CCS was one of the first construction-related firms whose concentration focused on cost estimating and the first woman-owned business specializing in this service.

Much of her company's growth can be attributed to the support she has received from numerous sources, but she particularly singles out the SBA 8(a) program. Mary has received training/counseling through various SBA seminars, including assistance with marketing, finance, etc. Additionally, the SBA directed CCS to a bonding company to assist in attaining bonding for the firm's general construction projects. And of course, SBA has enabled her to obtain contracts with federal agencies through the 8(a) program.

One of the best but least known SBA assistance programs is the 8(a) program, which is designed to help develop small disadvantaged businesses so that they can obtain contracts through the federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. The SBA 8(a) Program is intended for business development purposes to help these socially and economically disadvantaged small business owners gain equal access to the resources necessary to develop their business, and thereby, improve their ability to compete.

Business development is usually accomplished by one-on-one counseling, training workshops, and assistance in expanding into federal government contracting. In addition to providing training assistance, the program can provide information to on the process of meeting financial and bonding needs.

Since the firm's inception, Mary has worked very hard to attain various Federal, State and, Local certifications. Crawford Consulting Services is currently certified through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services, County of Allegheny (PA), Port Authority of Allegheny County (PA), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority, City of Philadelphia, City of Atlanta, Chicago Transit Authority, State of Delaware, Commonwealth of Kentucky, State of New Jersey, State of Ohio, Commonwealth of Virginia, State of West Virginia, National Women Business Owners Corporation, and Women's Business Enterprise National Council of PA, NJ, and DE.

When CCS entered into the SBA's 8(a) program in July 2000, CCS employed thirteen (13) full-time personnel. Today, the firm has grown to employ sixteen (16) full-time salaried personnel. This number does not include field personnel that are employed by CCS, who receive an hourly wage. CCS' sales have also grown at a steady pace over the years.

In 2002, Mary was selected by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters as one of only six Woman-Owned Businesses in the United States to participate in a DoD Business Technical Assistance Pilot Program. A much-honored businesswoman, Mary was recently named the Woman Business of the Year by the Minority Business Opportunity Committee (Pittsburgh, PA) in 2004 and is the SBA 2005 Woman Owned Business nominee for 2005.

To learn more about SBA Programs of Assistance for small business owners, pleas call the SBA District Office at 412.395.6560.