ABC June 30 awarded Chapter Diversity Grants to five ABC chapters committed to developing long-term diversity programs that support the strategic initiatives of ABC. To be eligible for the grants, chapters had to meet six critical elements: partner with local organizations representing minorities or women, maintain a commitment from leadership, use effective practices, secure additional resources from strategic partners and develop models on effective approaches and measuring results.   

The five ABC chapters receiving grants are:     

ABC’s Eastern Pennsylvania chapter - $10,000
ABC’s Eastern Pennsylvania chapter will use its grant for the Step Up To Success program, a partnership between the chapter, The United Way and a provider of life skills training programs to train economically, academically and socially disadvantaged young residents a construction trade and the life skills necessary for long-term, successful employment.  

ABC’s Massachusetts chapter - $10,000
ABC of Massachusetts will use its grant for its Enhancing Diversity Project, a program that will develop structured pathways for minorities and women to construction careers with ABC Massachusetts’ companies.   

ABC’s Mississippi chapter - $10,000
ABC’s Mississippi chapter will use its grant for Project Enhance, a program designed to enhance the capabilities of minority and woman owned businesses through targeted training, support from industry leaders and business development opportunities.  

ABC’s TEXO chapter - $10,000
ABC’s TEXO chapter will use its grant to benefit the Contractors Development Alliance, a program that brings mature businesses together with small emerging firms to enhance their professional development, productivity and their ability to operate at a profitable level and grow in size.  

ABC’s Western Washington chapter - $10,000
ABC’s Western Washington chapter will use its grant to benefit the Mentor/Protégé Program, an effort to provide the leadership to facilitate stronger participation by women and minorities in the construction industry. The two-year program provides protégés with the ability to develop a business plan and adopt key practices that will increase their capacity, competitiveness and profitability.      

The grant funding is intended to cover a 12-month period with quarterly reporting.  

For more information, contact Jen Huber at ABC, huber@abc.org.