Business and Workforce Equity in Construction

Prosper Portland adopted the Construction Business & Workforce Equity Policy to ensure construction and contracting investments provided equitable opportunities for underrepresented populations on agency-funded projects. Prosper Portland has been working to increase equitable outcomes over the last 10 years, with each successive policy direction expanding the scope and reach of our equity work. The agency’s Equity Policy, adopted in 2013 and updated in 2016 and 2017, calls for all projects, initiatives and investments to generate equitable outcomes.

Strategic Plan

Our 2015 Strategic Plan made equity and inclusion the foundation of our work, with equitable construction and contracting a specific outcome in the goal to foster wealth creation within communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.

Our commitment is to ensure that our significant investments in construction provide job opportunities for underrepresented populations, particularly women and people of color.

Business & Workforce Equity Programs

Prosper Portland’s business equity program centers on improving the success of local small businesses and supporting the growth of construction and development firms owned by women and people of color.

The workforce training and hiring program identifies specific steps for contractors, developers and borrowers conducting work on Prosper Portland’s behalf to maximize apprenticeship and job opportunities in the construction trades for women and people of color.

Construction Business & Workforce Equity Policy

Prosper Portland’s Business Equity Policy applies to:

  • Construction projects that Prosper Portland owns
    • with construction costs greater than $200,000
  • Construction projects that Prosper Portland sponsors
    • that receive more than $300,000 of agency resources and
    • with construction costs greater than $200,000
  • Land sales made by Prosper Portland
    • where the purchase price is greater than $300,000 and
    • with expected construction costs greater than $200,000.
  • Enterprise Zone projects that involve new buildings and structures to be constructed or new additions to, or modifications of, an existing building

Prosper Portland’s aspirational goal is that 20% of construction costs are awarded to firms certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE), Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) and Emerging Small Businesses (ESB).

Prosper Portland’s Workforce Equity Policy applies to:

  • Construction projects that Prosper Portland owns
    • with construction costs greater than $200,000
  • Projects that Prosper Portland sponsors
    • with construction costs greater than $1,000,000.
  • Land sales made by Prosper Portland
    • where the purchase price is greater than $300,000 and
    • with expected construction costs greater than $200,000.
  • Enterprise Zone projects that involve new buildings and structures to be constructed or new additions to, or modifications of, an existing building

The Workforce Equity Policy has a mandatory program requirement that the contractor and sub-contractors utilize state-registered apprentices for 20% of labor hours in each apprenticeable trade. The Policy includes aspirational goals for a percentage of total hours on the project going to People of Color and Women. This aspirational goal increases from year to year.

Construction Data

The data below details the performance on projects within the last three years where our Business & Workforce Equity Policy applies (see above for details). Please note that for projects under construction, the data will be updated to reflect project progress.

Note: Projects with PS in the name refer to Professional Services.