Page 6
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
August 19, 2020
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
Nate McCoy, executive director of the Oregon chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, gives an update on the successful diverse workforce used at all
levels of construction for the renovation of the Oregon Convention Center.
Minority Contractors Celebrate Achievement
Convention
Center work
exceeded equity
goals
Minority contractors say an eq-
uity lens that Metro used to hire a
diverse workforce in the recently
completed Oregon Convention
Center was successful.
Over half of the construction
dollars spent on the project went to
minority and women owned busi-
nesses; and of the hours worked
on the project, 40 percent were
completed by people of color, ac-
cording to the recent equity report
presented to the Metro Council by
minority contractors.
Nate McCoy, executive direc-
tor of the Oregon chapter of the
National Association of Minority
Contractors, said Metro’s com-
With a timeline of 13 months,
the Oregon Convention Center re-
model was completed on time, on
budget, and set records for deliv-
ering on an equitable workforce
and an average contract amount of
$2.6 million going to certified mi-
nority business firms. These out-
comes translated to an extremely
diverse workforce at all levels of
construction, McCoy said.
“A diverse workforce is not
only possible, but will exceed all
expectations when leadership is
serious about utilizing and valuing
equity, diversity, and inclusion,”
McCoy said.
The National Association of
Minority Contractors- Oregon
is a nonprofit trade organization
headquartered in Portland and
The Oregon Convention Center in northeast Portland.
dedicated to serving Contractors
mitment to equity within the pro- contract awarded to a prime con- total dollars paid to subcontractors by supporting the prosperity, sus-
curement process led to a fair and tractor who is either Black, Indig- on the renovation, 54 percent were tainability, and growth of minori-
competitive response resulting in enous or a person of color.
awarded to majority Black-owned ty-owned businesses for public
and private construction projects.
the largest public improvement
According to the report, of the businesses.