By Roger Caldwell
On Tuesday, August 25, 2009, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer updated the community on the progress of the Amway Center and the other Venues Projects. Mayor Dyer, District 5 City Commissioner Daisy Lynum, and Alex Martins of the Orlando Magic were pleased to announce that contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses for the Amway Center project have surpassed $79 million.
To this date, 28 % of the Amway Center contracts have been awarded to minority firms and 7 % have gone to women-owned businesses. As a result of the 35 % minority involvement in this public project, the Amway Center is on track to set state and national records. One year ago, ground was broken with much hoopla and trepidation and many of the critics were concerned with the ambitious goals established with the Venues Blueprint Initiative.
Mayor Dyer’s press conference has infused a sense of hope in the city during the worst economic climate since the depression. “This project is powerful not just because it expands sports and entertainment options in our region, but because the Blueprint is changing peoples lives for the better. With more than $79 million in contracts for minority and women-owned companies, we are keeping our commitment to Central Florida residents that this historic project will be as diverse and equitable as possible.”
The new seven-story Amway Center will serve as the new home for the 2008 Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic, and is part of the $1.1 billion arts, sports, and entertainment Community Venues project that includes the Dr. Philips Orlando Performing Arts Center and renovation to the Citrus Bowl.
City officials view the Venues project as an economic engine to provide jobs to members of the Parramore community. The Blueprint Employment Office, located in Parramore has placed 85 members from the community in construction-related jobs and another 138 have been placed in non-Venues jobs since it opened last September.
As the project continues to move toward its completion date, there will be an opportunity for more jobs in different fields and different skills levels. In the months ahead the Amway Center will increase its hiring and additional contracts will be finalized.
After talking too many of the workers who attended the press conference, they stated that their job with the Amway Center had changed their life. Hopefully this Venues project model will receive national attention by showing a powerful collaboration of committed partners, businesses, and leaders who can positively impact a community.
