WASHINGTON, June 24—Associated Builders and Contractor today announced that it has awarded an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Initiative Grant to ABC of Michigan and its Greater Houston, Ohio Valley and Pacific Northwest chapters.

The grants were awarded through a competitive process to support and expand chapter-based IDE programs; build the capacity of the chapter to increase the diversity of membership; provide education to minorities, women, veterans, members with disabilities and LGBTQ+ construction firms to increase their ability to be competitive in a free-enterprise environment; and attract more diverse groups into the construction workforce. ABC’s board of directors designated $100,000 in funds to drive 2021 IDE strategic goals and objectives for ABC and the entire construction industry.

“ABC of Michigan and our Greater Houston, Ohio Valley and Pacific Northwest chapters are creating the right conditions to appeal to a diverse workforce by attracting the top talent necessary to build high-performance construction teams,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “This grant program represents ABC’s ongoing commitment to achieving an inclusive and culturally competent workforce. We believe that career opportunities in this nation should be created and made available to all people, where employees and suppliers are limited only by their own potential and desire. That is the essence of the merit shop philosophy—a movement for the betterment of the individual, the industry and the nation.”

To be eligible for a grant, chapters illustrated their commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity and provided metrics to indicate that success. Evidence of commitment exists within the chapter’s strategic plan and aligns with the principles upon which ABC was founded and the association-wide plan in place.

For more information, visit diversity.abc.org/ideigrant.