ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN)....Hope Knight said she had to look twice - just to make sure the numbers were correct.
They were.
Knight, Empire State Development president and commissioner, said she was pleasantly surprised when she learned that - to date - women and minority-owned firms working on the $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium accounted for 32% of all contracts awarded and those contracts equal just shy of $500 million.
And, of that total, 60% of the contracts were awarded to firms headquartered within 100 miles of the Orchard Park stadium/
"It sets the table for future projects," Knight said.
Empire State Development set a 30% goal for awarding contracts to women and minority-owned firms.
The benchmarks carry some clout, Knight said.
While the 30% goal for awarding contracts to women and minority-owned firms may become a new standard for state-backed projects, Knight hopes that other developers and projects will attempt to surpass that threshold.
"Breaking down barriers doesn't just happen," Knight said. :"In that regard, our work is far from done."
Stll women and minority firm owners say they are grateful the state made such a push for inclusion when it came to contracts.
"It can be a big deal for a small, struggling firm," said Windell Gray, president of Rochester-based Landon & Rian Enterprises that helped monitor which firms were fired and if they fit the W/MBE standards.
"Putting a big project like this on your resume can be a game changer," Gray said.
Jennifer Kuhn, Hamburg Overhead Door president, said showcasing her firm's work at the stadium can be a "door opener," especially for commercial projects.
Hamburg Overhead supplied a number of different doors at various locations within the stadium.
"It will be part of our marketing and outreach," Kuhn said.
Nearly $500m awarded to W/MBE firms
Nearly $500m awarded to W/MBE firms
