Clay Calls I-64 Diversity Program a Model for New Mississippi River Bridge

(August 10, 2009)Congressman William "Lacy" Clay today declared the I-64 construction project in St. Louis a national model for diversity in employment and contracting.

“This workforce reflects the make-up of the community,” he said at a joint press conference with Pete Rahn, director of the Missouri Department of
Transportation (MoDOT).

“When you think about other projects in the area, not much diversity was evident. You can’t say that about this project,” Clay said. “In my 26 years
in public office, I cannot remember a more aggressive effort for inclusion, and that includes the construction of the downtown domed football stadium,” he added.

Clay also said he was “very pleased” with the amount of subcontracting to minority owned businesses.

According to data released by MoDOT, 18.6 percent of contract dollars on the I-64 project have gone to 83 disadvantaged business enterprises, 55 of which are owned by African Americans. And companies working on the I-64 project far exceeded the 14.7 percent goal for minority employment. According to MoDOT, 105 of the 490 workers employed on the project, or 21 percent, are minorities, and 93 of them are African American.

MoDOT admitted, however, that companies have had a harder time recruiting women to work on the project. MoDOT set a goal of filling 6.9 percent of the jobs building I-64 with women. The agency reported, however, that 31 of the workers, or 6.6 percent, are women.

Compared to previous public projects, “this is progress,” Clay said. “I am confident this sets the stage for [inclusion in] future projects, such as
the Mississippi River Bridge,” he said.

Alfred Long was on hand at the press conference to serve as an example of the success of the workforce inclusion plan. Long, 31, began working on the project in April 2007 as an apprentice laborer after completing a pre-apprenticeship program at the Construction Prep Center in Wellston. Last
week he completed his apprenticeship and earned his journeyman’s card. Long said this was just the start of his construction career. He said he aims to
work his way up the chain through foreman and superintendent to “as high as I can go.”

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