The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority passed the much anticipated Construction Services Agreement Equity Plan today. The plan outlines how the Construction Manager will engage women, minorities and veterans in the building of the new stadium.
The plan is a continuation of the equity efforts that began during the design phase. For the Design Services Agreement, the Authority and the Minnesota Vikings adopted goals of 11% and 8% women and minority inclusion respectively. The Authority announced the majority of the subcontractors who are fulfilling those goals at its last meeting on January 18, 2013.
“The Authority and the Minnesota Vikings have developed this comprehensive plan with public input. As we build this new stadium we want to ensure we include communities of color, women and veterans,” stated Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen. “Our goals are aggressive, and this stadium project is going to leave a legacy of successful companies and individuals with lifelong careers.”
The Targeted Business (TB) goal will be 20% – 11% women owned businesses and 9% minority owned businesses. Only contract work performed by Minnesota firms will be counted towards this Targeted Business goal. The workforce goal is to include 32% minorities and 6% women in all hours worked on the stadium project. The plan also addresses the need to include Minnesota veterans in our outreach and employment efforts.
“The Governor and legislators saw the construction of the new stadium as an economic development tool,” added Chair Kelm-Helgen. “Our board will ensure that targeted businesses and the workforce are Minnesota companies and Minnesota workers.”
“The Vikings and the Authority are committed to ensuring a diverse and talented work force on this project,” said Vikings Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Warren, a member of the Stadium Equity Review Panel. “We have worked hard to put together a comprehensive equity plan – one that will focus on outreach, recruitment, training and employment of all Minnesotans and will ensure inclusion of minorities, women and veterans.”
More specifics from the Equity Plan:
– The Equity Plan calls for the Authority to contract with an Employment Assistance Firm which will focus on specific stadium workforce needs and preparing the diverse workforce of tomorrow.
– The Plan specifically outlines how the Construction Manager will report their efforts to meet the TB goal and workforce goals.
– A Stadium Equity Oversight Committee will be established as a public meeting where the Construction Manager will periodically report progress on minority, women and veteran goals.
– An outreach strategy that includes Minnesota veteran owned businesses and inclusion in the workforce is an important part of the Plan.
– The Authority will work closely with the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Minnesota Department of Administration to help the Construction Manager and Subcontractors with the reporting of Targeted Businesses and Workforce numbers.
“The Association of Women Contractors is very pleased with the Equity Plan,” said Barb Lau Executive Director of the AWC. “We strongly support the 20% Minnesota Targeted Business inclusion in the plan. We are confident that through the leadership of the Authority and the Vikings, we will meet or exceed this goal.”
The Authority also confirmed that they are negotiating with two of the three firms who submitted bids: Hunt Construction and Mortenson Construction.
About the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA)
In May 2012, the Minnesota Legislature and the Minneapolis City Council approved funding for the new $975 million multi-purpose stadium to replace the Metrodome. The new stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2016 NFL season. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), which currently owns the Metrodome, will own and operate the new stadium. MSFA is also responsible for the design and construction of the new stadium.
