January 16, 2014, Thursday - East Downtown Council Forum

Time: Registration, lunch and networking starts at 11:30 a.m., with presentations starting at Noon.

Location: First Covenant Church, in the Fellowship Hall.

You are cordially invited to join the East Downtown Council (EDC) for the next EDC Business Forum on Thursday, January 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at First Covenant Church, in the Fellowship Hall.

Please RSVP by no later than Monday, January 13, at 4:00 p.m., by sending an email to info@edcmpls.org. The cost to attend the lunch is $15. Please pay with cash or check at the door.

Forum Summary
 
The new Vikings stadium construction project in the East Downtown business district broke ground on December 3. The general contractor, Mortenson Construction, estimates that 7,500 construction workers will work more than 4.5 million labor hours on the new stadium over a three year period. The stated workforce goals include hiring 32% minority owned companies, and 6% women owned companies to participate in this cast of thousands.
 
This business forum will feature a panel of leaders close to the stadium project who will discuss the challenges, opportunities and strategies for making the stadium project one of the most equitable publicly subsidized construction projects to date.
 
Guest Speakers
 
Michele Kelm-Helgen, Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority
Alex Tittle, Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority
Robert Woods, National Association of Minority Contractors
Lynn Littlejohn, Mortenson Construction
Ravi Norman, Thor Construction
 
Agenda

Noon - Welcome and introductions by EDC President Dan Collison
12:05 pm - Stadium Update by Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Chairperson Michele Kelm-Helgen
12:15 pm - Stadium Equity Plan Highlights and Strategy by Alex Tittle, MSFA
12:25 pm - Minority Business Perspectives by Robert Woods, National Association of Minority Contractors
12:35 pm - General Contractor Perspectives by Lynn Littlejohn from Mortenson Construction and Ravi Norman from Thor Construction
12:45 pm - Q&A moderated by EDC President Dan Collison
1:00 pm - Adjournment