Chicago Department of Procurement Services Hosts Annual Construction Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2023
Contact: Jaqueline Umbles
312-744-0061
dps.events@cityofchicago.org
Chicago Department of Procurement Services Hosts
Annual Construction Summit
Full-day event featured resources for vendors seeking participation in
Construction Contracts with the City of Chicago
CHICAGO- The Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS) hosted its annual Construction Summit on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Malcolm X College. This year’s Summit was held in-person for the first time since 2020 and drew nearly 1,000 registered attendees.
Each year, the Construction Summit provides residents and business owners an unparalleled opportunity to network and gain information about upcoming construction and construction-related projects in the City of Chicago. The full-day event featured workshops, resources, and panel discussions with the City and its Sister Agencies, State, Federal, and anchor organizations.
“The construction industry plays a huge role in our work to build a more vibrant and equitable city through the Chicago Works Capital Plan,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “The annual Construction Summit provides a thought-provoking and network-inspired forum that demonstrates how collaborative and inclusive partnerships can create enterprise value and provide wealth-building opportunities through equitable participation in the City’s procurement process.”
In honor of Black History Month, the program included Leaders Roundtable sessions that celebrate diversity, financial empowerment, and women in construction. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to meet with 80 exhibitors representing all levels of government, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and subject matter experts in the construction industry.
“The Construction Summit is a key initiative in our efforts to ensure equity and diversity in contracting opportunities with the City,” said City of Chicago Chief Procurement Officer Aileen Velazquez. “We are thrilled that we were able to connect the vendor community with industry leaders who share our commitment.”
The Summit also provided an opportunity to participate in the Business-to-Business matchmaking experience and engage with industry leaders, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. Additional event highlights included:
- Keynote Address from Nosa Ehimwenman, President and CEO of BOWA Construction
- Workshops on the City’s procurement processes and initiatives, including Bid Incentives and Programs, Working with Government Entities, and How to Become Certified
- Resources for small, midsized, and veteran-owned businesses
The robust agenda allowed attendees to customize their Construction Summit experience to fit their needs, regardless of the size or type of their firm.
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