The St. Louis Minority Business Council recently presented The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) with the prestigious Institution of the Year award on December 17th, at the 2014 Excellence Awards. The Institution of the Year award recognizes an organization’s commitment to develop and use minority-owned businesses.
“Our diversity initiatives are paramount to core values of MSD,” stated Brian Hoelscher, executive director of The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. “It is a great honor to be recognized by the St. Louis Minority Business Council as we continue to promote diversity and inclusion in MSD’s programs.”
On average, per fiscal year MSD has 145 active Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) participating in the Capital Improvement and Replacement Program, with contracts in excess of $30 million. MSD has also entered into a Community Benefits Agreement with Stakeholders of the Community, which has established framework for addressing issues that often hinder development of a diverse labor pool. Through MSD’s Small IR Contractor Initiative, MBE’s gain hands on technical assistance and are provided opportunities to learn and obtain foundational experience required to grow MBE businesses. By investing in programs such as the Contractor Loan Fund Program, MSD can assist with opportunities for MBE’s to qualify and have access to capital funding through non-traditional lending programs.