Fort Bend ISD school campuses growing

FORT BEND COUNTY (FOX 26) - If it seems like Ft. Bend ISD is throwing up schools as fast as it can, well that's because it is. There is plenty of work to be had building them and small construction company owner Demond Kenebrew  wants some of it.

"Painting, drywall as well as some general contracting." he says.

FBISD is actively seeking out small business owners like Kenebrew to build the schools approved in the in a 2014 $484 million bond program.  The district invited small business owners to this meeting to learn how to go about submitting bids. Some schools like Anne Sullivan Elementary School ... others are still on the drawing board.

The district says size will be the criteria not race or gender when it comes to selecting businesses that have been certified to participate. Size and Gender have been used by many districts to allocate contracts. using size is unusual..

Now what's behind all this is growth. The schools in the Sugar Land area are filling up as quickly as they can build them. As a matter of fact  it's one of the reasons there's even a movement here to ban apartment complexes that have more than two hundred units.

There's also another issue at play. There's so much construction going on in the greater Houston area.. finding contractors to handle smaller projects has become a challenge. Small subcontractors would be more like to tackle projects in the 50-thousand dollar and up range the district is offering than the big boys. That's just fine with Kenebrew.

"It's the driving force in the economy.  and it gives an equal playing field on the small business level." he says.

The district plans to start awarding contracts in March or April. Kenebrew hopes to get one of them.