A helping hand

National building contractor Suffolk wants to create new opportunities for trades people in the Tampa Bay region and beyond.

The firm, in doing so, is accepting applications for the southeast edition of its 2017 Trades Partnership Series. It's a program targeted toward trade partner firms that meet certain criteria, such as being owned by women and minorities, and want to improve access to the construction industry while developing skills that lead to long-term success, according to a statement.

The program begins with a networking reception Nov. 3. Courses will be held Nov. 6-9 in Tampa. Topics scheduled to be covered include project management, access to capital, risk management and safety, estimating, purchasing and financial management.