2009 Wins for Oregon's Minority Contractors

Although 2009 presented significant economic challenges, the National Association of Minority Contractors of Oregon (NAMCO) has been successful in assisting its members to maintain their businesses.

The National Association of Minority Contractors has 25 chapters across the country in major cities. In Oregon, NAMCO is made up of 60 Minority contractors who strive for economic parity in contracting opportunities.

A vital part of NAMCO's success is the strength of its partnerships in business, community and government. During the year, the association has built key partnerships for its membership with public and private sector owners, most notably the Association of General Contractors (AGC) and local trade unions.

Minority contractors agree that membership in NAMCO provides many benefits. "The organization has helped us to build relationships and has assisted us to position ourselves for key projects," said Andrew Colas, President Colas Construction, a NAMC Oregon member firm.

NAMCO members and partners honored at this year's annual event:

Contractor of the Year: Hamilton Construction
Private Partner Project: Legacy Health System
Agency of the Year: Port of Portland
Clean Energy Project of the Year City of Portland: Derek Smith
DBE Contractor of the Year: Pacificmark Construction,

In addition to helping members maintain and improve their businesses, some of the major milestones for NAMCO during 2009 involved partnering with AGC on the Oregon Department Of Transportation (ODOT)Industry Team to set guidelines for state projects.

Working with the ODOT Civil Rights Teamm, NAMCO organized quarterly trainings for DBEs to participate. Most recently, NAMCO helped to determine certification compliance, enforce ODOT requirements to increase utilization of minorities on ODOT Projects and target specific geographic projects to increase minority participation.

NAMC Oregon launched and assisted in the blueprint for the Minority Contractors Improvement Partnership (MCIP) and have continued to support its growth.

NAMCO partners assisted in drafting the Clean Energy participation agreement to include minority businesses, and worked closely with MCIP and Multnomah County on weatherization projects. This work includes looking at contracting practices and incorporating some of the Federal Acquisition Requirements into local projects that are using ARRA funding. President Maurice Rahming is also working with the Energy Trust to increase its MBE participation.

In June 2010, NAMCO will host some of the largest minority contractors in the country as the national organization convenes in Portland. Some of those attending the conference include: Thor Construction, the largest African American owned firm doing business around the country and internationally; Shaw Lindquist, the largest Asian American general contractor in the country; and Meyer Fencing, a Native American company that completed a $5 million 24-hour emergency project on the collapse of the Minnesota bridge in 2008.

Learn more by visiting the NAMCO website.

Season's Greetings

Roy Jay's Holiday Open House and Fund-Raiser

Portland Oregon business entrepreneur and civic leader, Roy Jay continues to set the platinum standard for private holiday events. His six-hour open house high atop Mt. Scott, overlooking most of Portland, attracted over 200 people by special invitation.

Unlike some private holiday events, Jay’s had a twist which was actually a benefit for two local nonprofit organizations, Candle Lighters and Oregon Partnership.

The event was catered by Xavier Allen of Extraordinaire Catering, a minority-owned operation that provided a large assortment of delectable delights throughout the day.

Legislators of Color Urge Assault on Digital Divide

from press release

In a joint report on expanding broadband opportunity, titled Toward Access, Adoption and Inclusion: A Call For Digital Equality and Broadband Opportunity, state legislative caucuses representing communities of color today called the broadband status quo "unacceptable" and released a set of policy recommendations for spreading high-speed Internet service to every American.

"We firmly believe that ubiquitous broadband access, adoption and use stand to be great equalizers in our society," the lawmakers said in the report. "For our organizations and, most significantly, for the communities and people we represent, the broadband status quo is unacceptable."

"We seek broadband for all because it creates opportunities, breaks down barriers and promotes access by opening doors in areas of job creation, education, and health care. Broadband can help reduce the inequalities that have historically hampered communities of color, and provide those same communities with better opportunities to build their lives based on their individual merit, ambition, and talents," the report declared.


Digital Divide Threatens Sustainability of Communities of Color

Writing in "Towards Access, Adoption & Inclusion: A Call for Digital Equality and Broadband Opportunity," the groups said that broadband Internet adoption and use must become the norm for all communities. They urged policymakers to make broadband connectivity available, accessible, and affordable for every American; to incentivize broadband adoption; and to foster investment in broadband as a way to stimulate job creation and economic opportunity.

The report was issued jointly by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, The National Caucus of Native American State Legislators, and the National Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators. The Hispanic Institute and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies provided substantive data for the report and reiterated the need to collect better data about the digital divide and why people of color are less likely to subscribe to broadband service.

The report noted the persistence of a digital divide that separates people of color and low wage earning groups from more affluent Americans. It said the divide "threatens the future sustainability of our communities and our country."


Click here to download the report

Learn more about The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies