An alliance of five minority contractor and workers organizations have formed the Rosa Parks Minority Inclusion Initiative.
Spokesman Eric Vickers said the initiative will ensure that minority businesses and workers are included in a number of multi-million dollar construction projects throughout the region.
The group is seeking 25 percent minority inclusion on contracts, 35 percent minority workforce participation and the establishment of more professional minority inclusion programs by private companies.
“We know we have the means, we know we have the know-how to see to it that diversity takes place,” Vickers told reporters Monday morning near the downtown Pinnacle Casino and Hotel development site on Laclede’s Landing.
He said that the “excuse” of lack of capacity in the region for minority owned firms “will not be expected.”
“Every disparity study completed on this region has concluded that there is a under-utilization of minority owned firms. The area is not using the (minority-owned firms) that already exist in the marketplace.”
He said private construction firms, developers and project owners should be more active in using minority-owned companies.
“The more opportunities there are, the more opportunities there are for companies to step up,” said Eddie Hasan, MOKAN executive director.
Rosa Parks Initiative members include the Metro East Black Contractors Organization (MEBCO), MOKAN, Concerned Citizens Coalition (CCC), St. Louis Minority Contractors Association (SLMCA) and the Rev. Sharon Smith International Ministries (SSI Ministries.) Together, the groups have more than 50 years experience in working for minority inclusion.