Build Local

BUILD LOCAL STEP BY STEP

TARGET FUNCTIONS

Institution-sponsored construction and renovation projects
Construction projects that occur on long-term land leases to third parties

GOAL

Increase local and diversity representation in suppliers, contractors, and labor in campus construction projects

WHO’S AT THE TABLE

Internal staff

Top-level leadership, including the CFO
Leadership in the real estate, planning, and facilities divisions
Implementation staff in those divisions
A community partnerships staff specialist

External partners

Local or regional capacity-building organizations connected to the building trades
Local or regional economic development organizations who can make connections to local and diverse construction suppliers and contractors
A representative from the local government’s office overseeing diversity in construction

Get Started

Understand the complexity of your local construction landscape.

Identify “Local”

Construction Relationships are different from procurement relationships and There will be underemployed union laborers in your geography.

The RFP Process

The RFP process is how and where your institution plants its flag in terms of your priorities in local and diversity representation in campus construction.

Put the Data to Work

There is a set of choices you can make with data tracking connected to campus construction

Create a Committee

Create a committee to review construction participation performance.

Local Capacity Builders

Engage with local capacity building organization.

The longer term of a multi-year contract, compared to the typical term of a single project contract, enables the contractor to establish a local presence, to get known by suppliers, subcontractors, and laborers, and to create consistency in meeting local and diversity participation requirements.

Profile Nancy Trainer

Nancy Trainer has been leading Drexel’s campus design efforts for three years, having come from private practice as a principal in planning and design for college and university campuses.

Drexel University

Office of University and Community Partnerships