Commitment to Diversity
Four months prior to construction of the facility, MMPI created and began implementation of an aggressive SBE participation plan for construction and post-construction. In October, 2010, MMPI hired Minority Business Solutions, a locally-owned SBE firm, as the Diversity Outreach Coordinator to begin to inform local SBE contractors about upcoming work opportunities. During the past six months, MMPI, Cuyahoga County, MBS, and Turner have hosted six SBE certification and outreach events, attended by more than 500 SBE contractors, prime contractors, MMPI, Turner, County, City, and MBS officials.
In April, MMPI hired the joint venture of Minority Business Solutions (MBS) and North Coast Minority Media LLC (NCMM) to serve as the Compliance Monitoring Coordinator for SBE and Workforce Utilization team during the construction of the project. MMPI, in cooperation with Turner Construction, Cuyahoga County, and the City of Cleveland, created a scope of work and a request for proposals.
In the Compliance Monitoring Coordinator role, MBS/NCMM team will be responsible for the implementation, administration, evaluation and monitoring of all community related requirements as designated by MMPI. The team, led by Arlene Anderson, President/CEO of MBS and Lou Acosta, President of NCMM, will report to the MMPI Construction team. The overall purpose of the monitor is to develop and maintain relations with all sectors of the community as directed by MMPI. The goals in creating this position are to comply with the Cuyahoga County Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program, to effectively evaluate and monitor SBE participation, to provide regular reports as required regarding compliance, to increase the participation of SBEs contractors and businesses, and to meet and exceed local and business participation as defined in Section 5.13 of the Construction Agreement between Cuyahoga County and MMPI.
The Compliance Monitoring Coordinator for SBE and Workforce Utilization will be responsible for collaborating with MMPI to ensure SBE project goals are met, inspect the project regularly for diversity of minorities and women in project workforces, provide reports on monitoring efforts on SBE participation (on a monthly basis), and workforce utilization (on a daily basis), ensure with MMPI and Turner Construction staff that all contractors are aware publicly and in writing of SBE and workforce utilization goals before work is commenced on the project by said contractors, serve as a liaison and project representative in community relations activities, produce records and administrative reports on SBE and Workforce compliance, monitor payrolls for SBE, minority, and female workforce, and assist project management in solving workforce and SBE related issues involving project employees.
MMPI and Turner have met with each of the prime contractors, carefully reviewing SBE plans and strongly encouraging new business partnerships. MMPI and Turner along with MBS/NCMM have met with all primes and prospective primes to review, analyze, and create additional SBE work opportunities.
On May 31, MMPI and MBS presented to the City of Cleveland Employment, Affirmative Action, and Training Committee, chaired by Councilman Terrell Pruitt at City Hall, followed by a guided tour of the construction site with Council members Pruitt, Miller, Cummins, and Mitchell, along with city staff. This was the second voluntary presentation to the Commission.
On May 18, MMPI hosted an SBE Bid Package Event at Public Auditorium to coincide with the release of several interior bid packages, including BP-22 (Painting and Wallcovering), BP-23 (Carpet), BP-24 (Ceramic & Quarry Tile), BP-25 (Terrazzo), BP-26 (Interior Glass), BP-27 (Ornamental Iron & Railings), BP-28 (Carpentry, including rough, finish, millwork, install doors/frames/hardware, toilet partitions, toilet accessories, lockers), and BP-47 (Site Work, including site earthwork, site concrete, site utilities, asphalt, and landscaping). These bid packages are scheduled for release in late June and should be contracted by mid-July. The event featured an introduction to the MMPI’s aggressive and successful Community Outreach program by MMPI Vice President Lloyd Davidson and Public Relations Director Dave Johnson. The Turner Construction team of Vice President Mark Dent, Project Executive Marty Burgwinkle, Project Operations Manager John Dewine, and Purchasing Manager Dave Gruver presented an extensive overview of the project, provided detailed bid package information, and introduced the 47 invited bidders by category. Lenora Lockett from the Cuyahoga County Office of Procurement and Diversity walked through the County’s SBE program being utilized by MMPI and Turner on the project. Ms. Lockett was joined at the event by Nancy Mercado, who oversees the Cuyahoga County SBE certification program. Tia Benson from Minority Business Solutions and Lou Acosta from North Coast Minority Media were also part of the evening’s program, along with seven students from the YouthBuild program. MMPI, along with Turner Construction, is in the process of creating opportunities for Cleveland-area youth as part of the project. More than 150 potential SBE subcontractors had the opportunity to meet with more than 40 contractors either currently working on the project or bidding on upcoming packages. SBE firms will have the opportunity to meet and set appointments with the 39 contractors at the event. The January 26 SBE Bid Package Event resulted in 180 appointments for SBE subcontractors and 20 first-time contracts.
MMPI, along with the Monitoring, Compliance, and Outreach team of Minority Business Systems and North Coast Minority Media released the inaugural edition of a bilingual monthly construction newsletter highlighting SBE contractors and providing important construction bid information with more than 5,000 copies distributed to construction, civic, and community leaders through media, churches, and community centers.
Current Construction Site Numbers
The current SBE participation rate is 36.62%. There are currently 39 SBE subcontractors listed that have been hired by their respective prime contractors for the first time.
Where to find blueprints?
Blueprints and Bid specs (electronic and hard copies of drawings) have been delivered to Greater Cleveland Partnership Commission on Economic Inclusion, Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Minority Business Solutions for their clients’ use in preparing bids, free of charge. Turner will continue to send amendments and bid updates to these outlets.
