The second public works project borne out of the Government’s Small Business Construction Incubator (SBCI) and Hands Up programmes was unveiled yesterday.Through the project, 12 people have been put to work.Standing with Minister of Government and Estates Michael Scott, Minister of Economy and Trade Patrice Minors announced that a graduate of the SBCI initiative has won the contract to paint an exterior wall of LF Wade International Airport.Run by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), the programme is designed to equip businesses with the skills they need to compete well in the tendering process for Government contracts.According to the BEDC, there have been 80 graduates from Construction Incubator, a 16-week series of seminars and workshops covering all aspects of running a construction firm including accounting, marketing, contracts and estimating, business strategy and project supervision.The Hands Up initiative is designed to help the companies once they have graduated.SBCI graduate Pandora Moore owner of Redeemed Construction, won the contract after completing the tendering process and is currently three weeks into the project. Her team consists of 12 employees and they are on track to finish the project within its 12-week timeline, said Minister Minors.The contract is to paint the exterior wall, which faces the airport tarmac and Kindley Field Road. The project includes masonry and maintenance prep of the wall prior to painting.“This [project] represents an example of the success small contractors can have when they utilise the tools that they have learned as graduates of the Construction Incubator programme,” said Minister Minors.Mrs Moore’s team won’t be painting the exterior any bland colour, but instead will be using a variety of blue hues that were designed by Bermuda Paint. The paint colours were specifically chosen to represent Bermuda’s skies and seascape, providing arriving tourists and returning locals, along with passing motorists, with a bright new view.The BEDC will also oversee the project to ensure it is completed on time and that quality and safety standards are followed.During the period between November 2008 and August 2009 the then Ministry of Works & Engineering set aside funds for the utilisation by participants of the SBCI for the completion of general planned maintenance works.Since that time several jobs have been completed by SBCI graduates, the first of which was the renovation to the Sea Song property at John’s Smith Bay. Remaining funds have been allocated to support the exterior painting at the airport.According to Lucrecia Ming, BEDC assistant executive director and project manager of the SBCI initiative, since many of the large construction projects have dried up, she’s seen more individual contractors in her office regarding smaller jobs.To help facilitate more bids for public works projects, Ms Ming and the BEDC will be taking the tendering process online so bids can be submitted electronically.