DBE Small Business Proofs to Calexico Businesses it is Possible to Obtain Government Contracts

Written by: Letty Alvarez

Desert Building and Design Inc. is one of the first small business located in Calexico CA to be certified as a DBE by CalTrans. According to Jose L. Yepez, Jr., President, “This certification helped us win the Housing Authority Award proving to small businesses in the area that certifications do help! Small businesses in the area do not have confidence in government contracting and feel they will never be able to compete with larger companies. Desert Building is a testament to all that it is possible to complete and win in the government sector by obtaining certifications and with the support of the San Diego, Orange, Imperial PTAC”.

Mr. Yepez Jr. was born January 1965 in Mexicali, Baja California and a year later the family immigrated to the United States. His father was a U.S. Citizen, but he didn’t become a U.S. Citizen until 1996. After dropping out of college in 1987, he started working as a construction labor on tract homes, in 1989, he became a Project Superintendent and continued to work for various developers for the next 20 years. In 2008, he started his own business as a General Contractor repairing foreclosures for various agencies and real estate brokers. For the past 10 years he has been doing business with the Imperial Valley Housing Authority, where he developed a great working relationship with many city planners.

“With the help of Mr. Frank Luna from PTAC, I have successfully been certified by the State of California SB-Micro, will continue to advance and I’m looking forward to getting Certified in the SBA8(a) Program. I just won my first major project worth over $550,000.00 with the Housing Authority, we are very excited and looking forward too many more large contracts”, states Mr. Yepez Jr.

Desert Building and Design are General Contractors doing business in the Imperial Valley, they provide home renovation, commercial and industrial repairs, tenant improvements, public housing home remodel, school renovations, concrete, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting and flooring. Sales have grown in the past couple of years from $250,000.00 to over $500,000.00, and employees have increased in order to fulfill their contact award.