PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 2023 – The Enterprise Center and its affiliates, The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation and its CDFI, The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation hosted a ribbon cutting for its new Community Resource Hub at 277 South 52nd St. in West Philadelphia. The new three- story structure, which replaced a dilapidated former business within the commercial corridor, has been in development and construction for more than two years. The project represents a significant milestone for The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation as the organization moves into a new phase of growth and a larger strategic reinvestment plan for the historic 52nd Street commercial corridor.
“We set out with one singular goal when we first conceived of this project—make proof of a concept around a holistic commitment to minority contracting,” said Della Clark, president and CEO of The Enterprise Center. “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. We are tired of empty promises and the unfulfilled potential we see around us. The thriving 52nd Street we see in the future will require more investment and innovative thinking to create a truly equitable growth environment. We welcome more partners who would like to learn and utilize best practices for minority contracting.”
Philadelphia’s commercial construction contracts are typically won by the largest majority-owned prime firms, who then subcontract with union-affiliated firms. Philadelphia still grapples with the exclusionary legacy of white-dominated construction firms. In a city where 44% of the population is Black, 75% of the building trades members are white. Growing MBE construction firms, who typically utilize minority labor, is one way to increase access to these high-wage jobs for Philadelphia’s Black and Brown residents. Unfortunately, MBE construction firms often struggle to transition from contracting on small residential projects to working on more lucrative commercial projects. In response to years of dealing with these systemic issues, The Enterprise Center, its affiliates, and the Pennsylvania MBDA Business Center, decided to take a novel approach to minority contracting, which attracted a grant from Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund.
“We see the value in investing in economic corridors and the people who help them thrive,” said Otis Rolley, head of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “With our $1.5 million grant, The Enterprise Center was able to engage contractors from the…
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