Obama Foundation Awards Diverse Construction Firms Contract to Build OPC

A collective of five construction firms -- most of them owned by African Americans -- has been hired to manage the building of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The awarding of the contract -- valued at $300 million -- to the newly created joint venture Lakeside Alliance represents some of the most established and well-respected African American-owned construction firms in Chicago. The creation of the joint venture will ensure that minority firms from the South Side will be in significant leadership positions in the construction of the Obama Presidential Center. Not only will the presidential partners have 51% of the overall financial equity of the contract, but key roles in the day-to-day decision making and strategy setting will be performed by people of color and women. The decision to select Lakeside came after four months during which foundation officials conducted interviews and probed the firms’ hiring records and charitable giving histories to determine if they would truly commit to inclusive hiring and a diverse workforce. “We spent a lot of time on this decision,” said Michael Strautmanis, the Obama Foundation’s VP for Civic Engagement. “We probably could have gotten this done six months ago if we had done business as usual — which is hire a majority firm, ask them to hire minority partners and move on. But President Barack Obama wants to take as many opportunities as we can find to make a real and lasting impact.” More here.