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Construction Partnership Target’s Minority Subcontractors

Bonita Springs based Gates Construction and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. announced a new partnership this month aimed at increasing work for minority-owned subcontractors and creating jobs. 

The new joint venture company is called Seminole/Gates Development and Construction. The partnership is focused largely on contracting with minority-owned businesses primarily for large-scale public and healthcare construction projects. 

The company doesn’t have specific projections for job creation, but new construction contracts are already in the works.  “We do have three or four major, major projects that we’ll be announcing probably in the next 30-45 days that we’re very excited about,” said Gates Construction Chairman Todd Gates.  “It’s a little bit premature to announce the specific projects. But I can promise you that they’re very near and they’ll be very close to happening.”

Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. CFO Mike Ulizio said jobs created through the partnership will have a lasting impact on the local economy.  “By contrast, when you have other developers that come into the state of Florida, they come in, they build a project.  Those profits and everything else leave the state.”

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, which is recognized as a minority developer by the state, is involved in a variety of business interests from casinos to cattle ranching and citrus.  Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. CFO Mike Ulizio said the partnership will significantly grow the tribe’s construction business.