Company Name: Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc.

Industry Sector: Engineering – General Contractor

Results of MBDA Assistance: $6.5 Million Contract
22 Jobs Created and/or Retained

MBDA Support: Access to contracts
Access to markets
Strategic Business Consulting

Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction, Inc. is a growing SBA 8(a) certified, small disadvantaged business and HUBZone contractor headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides general engineering construction services to the City and county of San Francisco, and various state and federal agencies in the Bay area.

Miguel Galarza founded Yerba Buena in 2002. He had worked for various small construction businesses throughout his career and during that time, he had seen too many DBE firms pass up opportunities for long-term growth because they were content to serve as subcontractors. Mr. Galarza was determined to make Yerba Buena a minority-owned prime contracting company.

In 2007, Yerba Buena contacted the MBDA Business Center in San Jose seeking procurement, technical and marketing assistance. The San Jose MBDA Business Center helped the company identify opportunities and establish relationships with public and private sector procurement officers. Mr. Galarza used the matchmaking forums organized by MBDA to develop new business leads and he used the training sessions MBDA organized and co-sponsored to help build the capacity of key personnel within the company.

With assistance from the San Jose MBDA Business Center, Yerba Buena was awarded a $6.5 million contract with the San Francisco Public Utility Commission in 2011. The contract represented a 30% increase in revenue and created or saved 22 jobs.

The San Jose MBDA Business Center continues to monitor the market for procurement opportunities where Yerba Buena has a competitive advantage as an 8(a) certified and HUBZone company.