Economic inclusion a priority for high-profile projects

Last week, Ellington Management Services partnered with developers, and construction companies to ensure that small (SBE), minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses (DBE) are well represented in the bidding for the Great American Building at Queen City Square and The Banks.

The meetings gave companies that normally have difficulties in the bidding process the opportunity to learn about the SBE and DBE certification process and to connect, build relationships, and strengthen existing ones between themselves and majority firms.

"It makes good business sense," says Eugene (Gene) Ellington, president and CEO of Ellington Management Services.  "Businesses realize that their supplier base must be reflective of their consumer base.  Also, increased participation generally increases competition, and increased competition help to hold costs down."

Ellington also believes that, as SBE and DBE go, so goes the regional economy.

"Small businesses represent the largest increase to the local economy," he says.  "To the extent that SBE and DBE's are included there is correlating impact on the general economy.  There are over $4 billion in construction projects in the region and all have inclusion goals."

Ellington says that SBE and DBE generally feel shut out of the bidding process.

"That is why economic inclusion processes are so important," he says.  "Not only do we need to increase the opportunities, but we need to level playing field."

Despite an equitable and socially desirable goal, some developers still have reservations about inclusion guidelines - an issue that Ellington says his company is helping to resolve.

"We often hear concerns about availability and capacity," he says.  "We believe that there is a greater availability than is perceived, companies simply need to look in the right places."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Eugene Ellington, president and CEO, Ellington Management Services, Inc.
Photography by Scott Beseler