FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2009
 

MDC DIVERSITY INITIATIVES HONORED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

HARTFORD — The Metropolitan District (MDC) was recently named 2009 Northeast Regional Partner of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce-Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). This honor, developed specifically to recognize the MDC’s ongoing commitment and success in advancing minority business participation on the $1.6 billion Clean Water Project, is the first to be awarded to a major construction project in the Northeast Region by the MBDA.

Heyward B. Davenport, MBDA Northeast Regional Director, presented the award to the MDC noting that he frequently cites examples from the MDC’s diversity initiatives in his dealings with federal leadership at the highest national levels. “I see Hartford as an incubator of best practices,” he said.

MDC CEO Chuck Sheehan accepted the honor, citing that the largest general contractor award to date on the Clean Water Project - $22.5 million - was competitively bid and awarded to the lowest qualified bidder, Northeast Remsco, a minority-owned business enterprise.

“To date, the MDC has awarded approximately $35.8 million (36.7%) of the total $97.6 million in Clean Water Project contracts to minority and women-owned businesses,” said Mike Jefferson, MDC Diversity Manager. “Our Supplier Diversity Program has greatly expanded its existing services to provide additional opportunities for local businesses. The program’s intensive capacity-building efforts will include training and certification programs and serve to further advance MDC efforts to enhance minority work force opportunities on the project.”

Additional initiatives to enhance the Supplier Diversity Program include: hosting Business-to-Buyer Match Maker events, where local firms meet one-on-one with MDC prime bidders to market their services; assistance with bonding, insurance, financing and bid preparation; and educational programs. Most recently, the MDC partnered with Capital Community College to develop a Certificate program in Construction Administration. The first class included representatives from local minority-owned firms and graduates of the Hartford Jobs Funnel program. Participants who successfully completed this class gained critical knowledge and skills that will assist local small contractors in administering MDC projects.

CAPTION: The Metropolitan District (MDC) was the recipient of the 2009 Northeast Regional Partner of the Year Award for success and ongoing commitment to providing minority business opportunities on its $1.6 billion Clean Water Project, in Hartford CT. L to R: Heyward B. Davenport, Northeast Regional Director for the US Minority Business Development Agency and Charles P. Sheehan, CEO, MDC.

Contact: