More than 700 Central Floridians were employed on the Amway Center through the City’s BLUEPRINT Employment Office. The City of Orlando and the Orlando Magic recently recognized their contribution to the project by dedicating a display within the new arena to these workers.
In order to ensure a local workforce was used to construct the new Amway Center and the other Community venue projects, the City of Orlando opened the BLUEPRINT Employment office. The employment office is part of the larger BLUEPRINT initiative which was developed under the leadership of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum to ensure the largest public works project in Florida’s history had a direct economic benefit on the local community and minority and women-owned businesses.
As part of the City’s commitment to create jobs and improve the Parramore community, where the Amway Center is located, the BLUEPRINT program targeted three specific populations for employment: Parramore residents, ex-offenders, and the homeless.
“Some of those who were hired for construction on a temporary basis are now working here full-time, or have found other employment as a result of their Amway Center job. The BLUEPRINT program has definitely benefited people across our entire region but most importantly those who face challenges in gaining sustainable employment”, said Mayor Dyer.
Herman Brewster III is one of those who found employment through the BLUEPRINT Employment Office. The 24-year-old student is holding down two part-time jobs at the Amway Center, one as a security guard with Andy Frain Inc., and the other with Levy as a customer service representative working with VIP ticket-holders.
“This is opening doors for many, many different pathways for me,” said Brewer, who is grateful to have secure employment after a brush with the law a few years ago. As an architecture student at Seminole State College, he’s excited to be working in what he calls “the number-one state-of-the-art building in the nation.” “I’m hoping that this opportunity could possibly grow into a full-time job, maybe in maintenance or operations or just running the building”, added Brewer.
Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum, whose district includes Parramore, said that more than 500 people in the three targeted groups found employment during the Amway Center’s construction through the City’s BLUEPRINT Employment Office located on West South Street in Orlando. “When we created the BLUEPRINT to provide economic opportunity to those traditionally underserved, many people were skeptical,” Lynum said. “Opening the door to employment didn’t add one cent to the cost of the Amway Center construction. The important thing is that during a tough recession with double digit unemployment, these folks found a good-paying job, which is proof that BLUEPRINT works.”
Nearly 60 companies who helped construct the Amway Center hired employees from the BLUEPRINT Employment Office.
Orlando Magic President Alex Martins noted, “The BLUEPRINT has allowed small, local companies to expand their capabilities and expertise. And in many instances, these local businesses were able to hire and retain the extra workers that they needed as a direct result of their Amway Center contract.”
