Like many small construction contractors in Los Angeles County, Christian Meza was interested in working on infrastructure projects in the region. Christian, the owner of Liberty Rebar, which was founded in 2021 and is based in La Mirada, wondered, “How do I manage a public project and prevent being fined by being out of compliance? Where do I begin?”
In late 2022, Christian, a Los Angeles native who grew up in Watts and continues to reside in South LA, attended a local small business academy, where he learned about the Los Angeles Regional Contractor Development and Bonding Program (CDABP), which assists small and local contractors in obtaining bonding, financing, and technical assistance. The CDABP is administered by Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services (MWIS), a Hub International company, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles, LA Metro, and the City of Los Angeles. CDABP enrollment and services are available at no cost to contractors.
“The CDABP is a great opportunity for contractors looking to grow within the public sector,” said Christian Meza, founder and owner of Liberty Rebar.
Upon enrolling, Christian was assigned to a contractor development manager. Christian said, “The MWIS team did an assessment of the company, created a work plan, and helped obtain a $750,000 bond line. I learned a lot in their workshops consisting of bidding and estimating as well as certified payroll.”
In the summer of 2023, Liberty Rebar won their first government job, a $630,000 Los Angeles County contract supplying and installing stainless steel rebar for work on a RCB project in Marina del Rey. After that, Liberty Rebar won a contract from the City of Los Angeles in early 2024 to work on the Central LA Recycling Transfer Station. They also secured rebar work through the LA County Sanitation Districts, and they are expected to start on other public works projects later this year.
“I am thankful for all that the CDABP has done for me,” said Christian. “Their guidance allowed me to access the system and positioned me for growth. Due to assistance from the CDABP, Liberty Rebar is hopeful that the path moving forward will continue to be positive.”
Christian also communicated the importance of community to him, saying, “It is a privilege to share the trade with workers from my hometown.”
The LA Regional Contractor Development and Bonding Program can help other small, local, and diverse contractors like Christian. For more information on the CDABP and upcoming contracting opportunities with the City of Los Angeles, LA Metro, and the County of Los Angeles, visit the LA Regional CDABP website at www.LAConDev.com.