Construction - City Center at Hanna Avenue

Rainbow Center Wall

Above VIew

Perimeter wall at the City Center

Crane at the City Center

Sky overseeing the crane

DPR Construction, the prime contractor for the City Center project, was assigned an unprecedented 35% goal for minority and small business participation among general contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. 20% of construction-related contracts went to companies with the designation of Black Business Enterprise (BBE). 15% of construction-related opportunities were awarded to small-locally owned businesses (SBLE).

DPR’s approach to meeting this goal of meaningful inclusion has allowed two contractors to gain needed experience, mentorship and long term partnership opportunities.

Envision is a local, family-owned small business specializing in construction and flooring installation services with lifelong ties to East Tampa.

Allen Greene, Sr. grew up in Northview Hills in East Tampa. His grandmother lived just blocks away from what is now the site of The City Center at Hanna Avenue.

This connection makes it even more special that Greene and his staff are working on the City Center project.

The City of Tampa Equal Business Opportunity Program is tailored to help small, women, minority, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOSB) and Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) and LGBT-owned businesses flourish.

John Mitchell, Sr., president of A Purpose Construction and a subcontractor on the City Center at Hanna Ave. job site, is reaping the benefits of the City’s aggressive workforce development policies and DPR’s commitment to expanding relationships with under-represented groups within the construction arena.

Play video - two interns wearing hardhats — Two students from Tampa talk about their internships at the Hanna Avenue Municipal building, a DPR construction site. Watch.

This summer, the DPR Construction team took Katia Floyd, a Gaither High School student and Lauryn Stoutley, a sophomore at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University under its wing.

As interns, the two young women received specialized training and carried out tasks directly related to monitoring building standards at the City Center complex on Hanna Avenue.

These students helped build structures that will shape the future of Tampa's government.