Commenter, a small-business owner who identified his firm as Prairie and Sons, said SDO certification helped him win work on a local construction project during the meeting's public-comment period. "This building here, they had to have a percentage of minority companies. I got hired through the painting contractor who's doing this," he said (00:23).

He told the meeting that after his previous employer slowed work in 2022 he started smaller exterior-painting projects and gradually took on larger jobs. "So it's 2022. The company I used to work for was a little slow. So I ended up starting small projects, exterior houses, stuff like that, but then I caught up into bigger things," he said (00:05). He said he named the business for himself and his children and intends for it to remain a family enterprise.

The commenter described tangible benefits from the SDO certification: "In fact, it a lot. I mean, ever since I got certified, more opportunities started coming in. I started gaining more work, more visibility," he said (00:35). He urged other minority-owned businesses to pursue certification, calling it "a big, big program, a lot of support from the SDO. Gonna help your business grow a lot" and advising, "Do it right away" (00:52).

On workmanship and hiring, he said his crews aim to complete jobs to a high standard: "So when we leave the room, it's a 100% done. So we take a lot of pride in our work" (01:06). He also expressed an intent to hire from the community: "Help out the community, other minorities and guys. You know, there's a lot of good people out there that sometimes they don't have chance, to work. And I'll bring them to Prairie and Sons and make them a part of the family so we can all grow together" (01:21).

No formal action or vote was recorded in the meeting minutes in response to the comment. The speaker identified the program and contractor connections but did not specify the exact project name, dollar values or the full name of the SDO.