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.
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.