No M/WBE Utilization Plan at Mill Station- Formerly Owings Mills Mall
Courtesy of Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones, 4th District, Kimco Realty, a private real estate development conglomerate, held a Minority Business Outreach on February 21, 2018 at the Baltimore County Public Library in Randallstown, MD. The purpose of the outreach, according to Gregory H. Reed, Vice President of Acquisitions and Development- Mid Atlantic Region at Kimco Realty, is to introduce the exclusively private funded project to local and deserving minority trade contractors. He mentioned that Kimco Realty owns and operates 500 shopping centers.
Mr. Reed also told the assembled audience of about 100 attendees that construction and prime contractor selection will occur in phases as new tenants come on. Currently, Costco is the only committed tenant. Site and utility contractor Glen Arm Building has been selected and is currently doing work on the site. Their bidding process, because Kimco Realty is a publicly traded concern, requires them to seek three competitive bids on each procured item.
Concerning minority business goals to spend with such certified firms, Mr. Reed told the audience that there will be no such goals, because again, they are a publicly traded company.
Wayne R. Frazier, Sr., President of Md. Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA) attended the meeting and summarizes it this way, “I was in total shock to hear that no minority and woman-owned goals will be placed on the project because I would wager the title to my home that, up to 75% of their retail patrons will be black, brown, and women customers. It’s questionable when a company wants to take our hard-earned money and not figure out how to include our minority-owned firms in the design, building, and construction of the facility. Hiding behind publicly traded ownership is no longer an excuse and Kimco please don’t disrespect us any longer. Md. Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA) would be proud to assist you in successfully procuring with local minority and women-owned firms (M/WBEs), but if there’s no known plan for M/WBEs then, no adequate utilization of M/WBEs will take place.”
Contact:
Councilman Julian Jones
Council4@baltimorecountymd.gov
Greg Reed
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