BUFFALO, N.Y. — According to the latest numbers reported by the state entity overseeing the Bills stadium project, the team and their construction partner Gilbane-Turner continue to fall short of diversity hiring goals, even though some improvement has been made over the last 9 months.
Executive Director of the Erie County Stadium Corporation Steve Ranalli shared Monday that the project is satisfying 1 of 3 hiring metrics with 17.4% of construction contracts awarded to minority-owned business enterprises or MBEs so far.
It's a sign that "good faith efforts" are working Ranalli said as all parties work towards an overall 36% hiring goal for MBEs, women-owned business enterprises WBEs, and service-disabled veteran businesses. Goals for each category are set at 15% for MBEs, 15% for WBEs, and 6% for service-disabled veteran businesses.
The news wasn't all good, however, with 2 of 3 diversity metrics still in the red. WBE contracts sit at 8.4% and awarded contracts for service-disabled veteran businesses at 3.1% leaving room for improvement.
Last June, the Buffalo Bills, and Glbane-Turner were told in a letter from state officials to get going on hiring goals after the state reported numbers that weren't even close to the project goal.
Ranalli said Monday that the 17.4% of contracts awarded to MBEs was an improvement from 2.3% in June, while WBEs went from 4.1% to the current 8.4% and service-disabled veterans 0.2% to 3.1%.
Efforts to improve those numbers have focused on outreach and the holding of targeted meetings meant to inform all types of business leaders.
"They've made significant efforts, improvements both in the outreach in getting folks there getting people involved and I think what you're hearing in some of these meetings is they are pushing to see 15, 15, and 6 that's the message," said Ranalli.
To date, $950 million in contracts have been awarded for the project according to the state.
Ranalli also provided a construction update during Monday's ECSD Director's meeting.
"Metal decking is being installed, pre-cast concrete is coming out to the site, and in a few short weeks we'll also have a fourth crane delivered out to the site," he said.
As of the end of last week, crews working on tiers one and two of the stadium, which make up the lower bowl reportedly have 800 pieces of the 10,000 pieces of steel that will need to finish both levels.
Steelwork is expected to continue through 2024 and into the beginning of 2025 and Ranalli added that the project remains on schedule.