That is good news for all New Yorkers.
Historically, the construction industry has not lived up to its ideals in this area. In many cases, Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises and veteran-owned businesses are not given a fair chance to participate on the many burgeoning job sites across the five boroughs. While programs to promote MWBE contracting at both the City and State level are working to address these problems, they are only a first step.
Though ambitious, this is achievable right now. Our firm, Gilbane Building Company, is trying to lead by example. Projects under our leadership – which include the Metropolitan Hospital Flood Wall Resiliency Project with NYC Health & Hospitals and Bush Terminal’s Made in New York campus– currently range from 45 to 60 percent MWBE participation.