CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the Cleveland Guardians prepare to undertake $202 million renovations to Progressive Field this fall, they are setting lofty goals for diversity in contracting and hiring and holding workshops to help more small and minority-owned businesses to get involved.

According to the objectives stated on its new Community Benefits Program website. Businesses can only be counted in one category, the website says.

He also set targets for hiring a workforce of 45% county residents, 20% Cleveland residents, 20% minorities, 6% women and 3% low-income people. .

“We know that to contribute to lasting impact, we must continue to rise up and partner with underserved communities to help everyone in our city thrive,” the website reads.

To achieve these goals, the Guardians, in partnership with the Ballpark Improvements project team, offer mentorship programs to help expose more young people to careers in architecture, construction and engineering, and support pre-apprenticeship programs at universities in region to create a pool of potential workers. .

It also organizes three “Scale Up Your Business For Success” workshops to help companies apply for contracts:

• “How to Create Your Power Statement” Thursday
• “Is matchmaking right for me?” August 9
• “Navigating the Mentor-Protégé Relationship” August 23

All events will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Terrace Club at Progressive Field.

The team will report on its progress towards these goals to cleguardians.com/CBP as well as providing regular updates to city and county leaders.

He also proposed creating a “community review group” to help keep projects on track and ensure they meet racial, ethnic and gender diversity goals in contracts and community representation. workforce ; inclusion and belonging; retention; and engagement on project issues.

Although the team says it has not yet finalized the slate of panel members who will safeguard these diversity commitments, an initial slate of 20 candidates includes education experts, Guardian representatives, the director of Partnerships and NEO Team Engagement Renee Ligon, Cuyahoga Equity and Equity Department. Lenora Lockett, director of inclusion, Dave Wondolowski, executive secretary of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, and Brad Sellers, mayor of Warrensville Heights.