NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FURTHER BOLSTERED WITH NEW MENTORING PROTÉGÉ PROGRAMHarrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that minority contracting and minority-owned business development efforts are now being bolstered by the establishment of a new Mentoring Protégé Program. The program specifically targets the inclusion of minority professionals in the construction management, engineering, architectural, design, inspection and insurance functions of publicly financed construction projects. The program supplements already existing minority contracting activities that aggressively seek to include minority and women-owned firms in performing actual construction work on the same projects. The mentoring Protégé Program seeks to assure that at least 25% of pro-fessional and construction services involve minority-owned firms in instances when the services are otherwise being provided by a non-minority firm. To kick-off the program, contracts were signed Friday, Jan. 14 for construction management, engineering, architectural, design and inspection services, and a mentoring pledge program for the extensive John Harris Campus Renovation Project of the Harrisburg School District, with minority-owned firms included in all aspects of these services. The contracts were signed in the Cabinet Room of the Mayor’s Office. The Mentoring Protégé Program is the result of detailed planning between the mayor, school district, the Interdenominational Ministerium, the Genesis Alliance, and the African-American Chamber of Commerce. Key participants in the discussions held in the mayor’s office over the past two months have included Reginald Guy, of the Genesis Alliance, Rev. Braxton Cooley, president, Elder David Scrivens, president-elect, and Rev. Earl Harris, vice-president of the Interdenominational Ministerium; John Coleman, board chair, Robert Jackson, president/CEO, and Dellanor Young, advisor, of the African-American Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Gerald Kohn, Superintendent, William Gretton, assistant superintendent, William Warren, legal counsel, of the Harrisburg School District; and the mayor. Reed said the Mentoring Protégé Program will now be replicated on a host of other pending and future projects. Requirements for the program will be listed in Requests for Proposals and bidding documents and firms responding to offer services will have to include the program to be considered. The Genesis Alliance will provide advice on the program and the African American Chamber of Commerce has been contracted to administer the program. Reed said: “We very strongly believe in minority contracting. The Mentoring Program is intended to build long-term capacity and an expanded experience base for minority-owned professional firms. We shall be encouraging other parts of the public sector, as well as the private and non-profit sectors, to adopt the same inclusive policies in their projects and activities. ” Robert Jackson, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce, said the “partnering relationship with the city and the school district is bold step forward in representing the small, disadvantaged minority and women-owned business enterprise. “It is out intent to provide a comprehensive program that would provide an educational and training component which will assist the M/WBE firms in business development, building capacity and construction training. “We would like to thank Mayor Reed for his support of affirmative action in the City of Harrisburg. The involvement of the Mayor on this project has resulted in improved working relationships and business opportunities for minorities and small businesses. The present and future state of the economy in and around the City has been positively impacted by this action.” |
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