Building Together, Breaking Barriers: The Enterprise Center
Changing history begins with the courage to challenge the status quo and embrace visionary ideas. In partnership with LF Driscoll, The Enterprise Center’s new Community Resource Hub was fueled by the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to build wealth.
BUILDING INCLUSIVITY
As a 501(c)(3) organization investing in people and projects at the heart of its West Philadelphia community, The Enterprise Center is a key neighborhood institution. At its core, the establishment has promoted racial and economic equality for over 30 years by supporting the growth of diverse small businesses within the region through access to capital, procurement assistance, and business advisory services.
Prompted by the unfilled potential they continued to see while advocating for increased minority business enterprise (MBE) representation, The Enterprise Center, through public and philanthropic funding, decided to take matters into their own hands and build their own Community Resource Hub using 100% MBE participation. Inspired by this initiative, LF Driscoll signed on as the pro bono prime contractor—providing mentorship to the project’s minority-owned construction businesses and to The Enterprise Center.
“We’ve had a good relationship with The Enterprise Center for some time now; they’ve overseen some of our projects,” says Mike Delaney, LFD executive vice president. “So, when we discussed this initiative, I informed the team that if they needed anything, just give us a call.”
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
In addition to mentorship, the project involves the construction of a new community resource hub at the 52nd Street corridor in West Philadelphia. The 3,000sf structure is comprised of three floors: the resource hub on the first floor, along with the second and third floors designated for housing. While the project commenced during the height of COVID-19, LF Driscoll continued their oversight of the project and mentorship with the subcontractors by conducting weekly meetings.
“Under our guidance and mentorship, each of the subcontractors were invited to participate through the entire process of the build, including submittal, approval, and preconstruction,” says Ray McDonald, LFD general superintendent. “This approach helped to enhance their skills at every stage and elevate them into becoming even better builders.”
Prior to working on the Community Resource Hub, many of the MBE contractors had little to no experience with the AIA process of bidding work and the step-by-step construction phase processes, which caused a few challenges, including some disruptions and delays to the project’s schedule.
Although they were newcomers, each of the MBE contractors swiftly recovered and not only made a lasting impact on the community but also within their respective firms, actively taking in and applying the advice given by LF Driscoll.
“I remember mentoring an outstanding subcontractor who effectively embraced the wisdom we provided,” says Charles Steiner, LFD project director. “Now, she’s applying it and passing it down to her own staff.”
“We set out with one singular goal we first conceived of this project: to demonstrate proof of concept around a holistic commitment to minority contracting. From the fully excavated basement to the tip of the roof, the Community Resource Hub project utilized 100% minority contractors of, by, and for the community we are rebuilding here in West Philadelphia,” said Della Clark, president, and CEO of The Enterprise Center.
CHANGE THROUGH INTENTIONALITY
For McDonald, the most rewarding part has been seeing this mentoring process pay off in real time.
“One of the subcontractors we mentored, they were able to not only put this successful project under their belt, but they also came to us and asked for help bidding another one,” he says. “It was a great full-circle moment, and we were very proud.”
For Delaney, intentionality in fostering diversity and inclusion within the construction industry is more critical now than ever.
“Picking the right people, giving them the right assignment, and helping them become successful while generating more success is intentionality. And that’s what The Enterprise Center did.”