New Planning and Estimating Room helps MBEs prepare construction bids

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Downtown Cleveland facility offers access to equipment, coaching

Cleveland, Ohio—The Minority Business Accelerator Planning and Estimating Room, which provides equipment and coaching to help Greater Cleveland minority-owned businesses (MBEs) in construction and related industries submit competitive bids, is open for business.

An initiative of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) and the Commission on Economic Inclusion (the Commission), the facility is located in Suite 509 of the Terminal Tower on Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The space has been donated by Forest City Enterprises, Inc., a member of the GCP and the Commission.

“The rational for creating the room came from the amount of feedback we received from the companies we service,” said GCP Senior Vice President Andrew Jackson, who is also executive director of the Commission. “This new program will help leverage our clients’ capabilities and capacity, as well as help them be better prepared when bidding on projects.”

“We are honored to support Northeast Ohio minority-owned businesses in developing and enhancing capability and capacity,” said Charmaine Brown, Forest City’s director of diversity & inclusion. “We believe the Planning and Estimating Room provides the needed resources and support to close the gap and position these companies in an ever-increasing competitive market.”

The Planning and Estimating Room will be used by MBEs served by the Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+, which focuses on growing the size, scale and infrastructure of African American- and Hispanic-owned companies with annual revenues of at least $2.5 million and located in a 16-county Northeast Ohio footprint. Exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis for MBEs who are not Accelerator clients, but who are bidding on one of the region’s major construction projects where the Commission is working to ensure participation by minority-owned companies.

“We’ll have experts in a variety of construction fields, such as dry wall or plumbing, to first help them prepare their bids, then teach them how to do it on their own for future projects,” said Jackson. If the MBE is an Accelerator client, the program will cover the cost of equipment, estimating services and an educational component. All MBEs are expected to pay for the cost of supplies.

The Planning and Estimating Room is open by appointment only. For more information, please call (216) 621-3300.

The Minority Business Accelerator2.5+ is an initiative of the Commission on Economic Inclusion , a program of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Funded by the Fund for Our Economic Future, and the Cleveland Foundation. Between April 2008 and December 2010, the Accelerator closed 54 deals valued at $131.6 million. www.mbaccelerator2-5.com

The Commission on Economic Inclusion, a program of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), works to significantly improve the meaningful involvement of minority businesses and individuals in the economic engines that drive Northeast Ohio. Founded in 2000, it is observing its 10th anniversary this year. www.commission-inclusion.com

As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region. www.gcpartnership.com

 

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