Mar 26 2010
Turner Construction Company, the nation's leading general builder, announced today that during 2009 it awarded contracts in excess of $1 billion to minority and women owned business enterprises (M/WBEs). This represents the fifth year in a row that the company has surpassed the milestone of awarding in excess of $1 billion of contracts to M/WBE firms.
Since 1979, Turner's total number of contracts with M/WBEs has surpassed 52,000 at a value in excess of $18 billion.
Turner has achieved these milestones through a proactive approach of reaching out to involve local firms in communities nationwide and through the firm's Turner School of Construction Management (TSCM) program. The TSCM training program serves to expand the skills of minority, women, disadvantaged and small-business enterprises and has been crucial in helping Turner achieve successful contracts with M/WBEs across the country. Since its launch in 1969, there have been 32,000 graduates of the TSCM program.
Examples of successful approaches of inclusion include in Chicago where Turner, as part of a joint venture, is managing the construction of the Exelon City Solar Project for the SunPower Corporation, a 10MWp solar plant located on 39 acres in the West Pullman area of Chicago. The Exelon/SunPower team is proudly embracing the spirit of business diversity and has so far awarded 54.7% of contracts to minority and women-owned business enterprises, far surpassing the City of Chicago's 24% required utilization rate.
In addition, Turner is currently managing the Key Bank Integrated Branch Strategy program, which includes the renovation of 500 branch banks and the construction of 150 new branch banks throughout the country. In a clear demonstration of a shared commitment to include the M/WBE community on the projects, Turner is averaging a rate of 41.4% M/WBE utilization on program, which is scheduled for completion by 2012.
"Our long-standing record of achievement in expanding opportunities for minority and women-owned contractors across the country, especially in this challenging economy, is vital to the success of Turner and of our industry," says Hilton Smith, Turner senior vice president, community affairs.
Source: http://www.turnerconstruction.com