Working Together to Build a Strong Future
The Cleveland Latino Construction Program by Deb Draper Photos courtesy of Kenny Torres The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio, announced plans for a $946 million transformation on its main campus on the West Side of the city in 2014. Among other things, the project would include an 11-story, 264-bed hospital to be completed by 2022, and at its peak time requires 500 to 650 workers. At least 80% of the workers had to come from local Cuyahoga County—a minimum of 20% African American and 10% Latino—and at least one-third of the contractors, vendors, and suppliers had to be minority- or woman-owned businesses. This was going to be a challenge in an area that historically held low participation of Hispanics in registered construction apprenticeship programs. Many were unaware of opportunities, let alone how to access them, looking at barriers such as lack Partners in Progress » July 2019 » 7
