The General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) and the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) are partnering together to promote construction, improve the industry’s image, and provide more opportunities for all construction firms. A formal agreement was signed at the GBCA’s 2005 annual business meeting on Monday, Jan. 10, 2005.

The partnership in Philadelphia comes at the recommendation of GBCA’s Equal Business Access Committee, headed by Angelo Perryman, of Perryman Building and Construction Services Co., and Judy Ritter, of Ritter Contracting Inc. It mirrors a similar partnership agreement between the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the National Association of Minority Contractors on the national level.

The goals of the partnership include:

• Development of meaningful dialogue regarding the issues facing minority and women-owned contracting firms.

• Promotion of GBCA’s Mentor-Protege Program as a means for small or underprivileged businesses to grow; and

• Collaboration on industry issues that improve the business climate for all contractors.

“We face a number of common problems as an industry, and we look forward to this partnership as a first-step toward reaching solutions that will create a better environment for construction in the Philadelphia region,” stated Walter Palmer III, president of GBCA.

NAMC represents general contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, manufacturers, suppliers, attorneys, accountants and other professionals. The association seeks to address construction industry concerns common to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and other minority groups.

GBCA is the Philadelphia Builders’ Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. The association’s membership of more than 350 general contractors, specialty contractors and related firms perform the majority of commercial, industrial, and institutional construction work in the Philadelphia five-county region.

As a recognized spokesperson for union construction throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Eastern Maryland, GBCA provides a comprehensive array of education, safety, legislative, public relations, labor relations, and industry relations services for its members and the industry.

For more information, call 215/568-7015.

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