The Fresno Economic Development Corporation will hold free workshops on Friday and Saturday for small businesses looking for work as subcontractors on California's high-speed rail project.

The workshops are planned for experts to walk business owners through the steps needed to become certified as small businesses or disadvantaged business enterprises.

A list of the businesses certified at the workshops will be provided to each of the five contracting firms expected to bid for the first high-speed rail construction segment between Madera and Fresno.

Small-business owners are asked to bring their federal tax returns for the past three years, addresses of officers or partners, federal employer ID number, Dun & Bradstreet number, Social Security number, contractor's state license board number and Secretary of State business number.

Both small-business and disadvantaged-business workshops are Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to noon, 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The sessions will be at the UC Merced Small Business Development Network office at 550 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 100, in Fresno.

Organizers said that business opportunities may be available in administrative services, community outreach, electrical, environmental, engineering, janitorial, landscaping, metal fabrication, office support, security, transportation, trash removal and construction, as well as other industries. Space at the workshops is limited and reservations are required, but a business operator needs to attend only one of the training sessions.

To learn more or to make a reservation, contact Srida Moua at (559) 476-2501 or smoua@fresnoedc.com.