By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Black-owned firms have been awarded more than $20 million in construction contracts for the new National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and small businesses have received $16 million, according to figures released Thursday.

Center officials said the number of minority and small business contracts could increase as the museum searches for suppliers of vending, security, janitorial and printing services.

The Freedom Center, set to open on the banks of the Ohio River in 2004, is estimated to cost $110 million.

"Our aggressive, race-neutral inclusion plan brought together people of all races and companies of all sizes to build the Freedom Center," said Spencer Crew, executive director and CEO of the Freedom Center. "Our proactive approach is what differentiates us from other construction projects."

Ernest Britton, a spokesman for the Freedom Center, said contracts were awarded, in part, based on each company's effectiveness on similar projects. In some instances, he said, large jobs were subdivided so that smaller firms would have a better chance.

Center officials worked with the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky African-American Chamber of Commerce and others to recruit minority-owned firms and small businesses in the area. They also sent delegations to Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville and Lexington.

About 32 percent of a projected $65 million in building, design and management contracts went to black-owned firms for a total of $21.2 million. Small businesses accounted for 42 percent of $38 million in building contracts, or $16 million.

Those numbers compare favorably to the work done at the Freedom Center's neighbors on the riverfront - Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.

Paul Brown Stadium saw 13 percent of its $272.9 million in construction contracts go to small businesses. Eight percent went to minority contractors.

About 27 percent of the $200.8 million in contracts for Great American Ball Park went to small businesses for a total of $53.2 million. Companies owned by minorities accounted for 11 percent of the work, or $21.5 million.

Minorities (blacks, Hispanics and other non-whites) make up roughly 35 percent of the construction work force at the Freedom Center - more than the 11.8 percent goal set by the city of Cincinnati when awarding contracts. Women make up about 8.5 percent of workers on the project, above the city's goal of 6.8 percent.

The Freedom Center must meet the city's standards for minority and small business participation because about $6 million of its funding comes from the city.

"Establishing small business partners in construction and ongoing operations of the Freedom Center is a visible example of the center's commitment to economic inclusion and economic freedom," said Gary Bockelman, chief financial officer for the Freedom Center.

Morris Hodge, owner of RockMasters in Lincoln Heights, is one of the contractors on the project and one of 27 small businesses granted a contract. Hodge, a 25-year veteran stone mason, was contracted to purchase 1,800 tons of Italian marble from a quarry in Italy. His company will also be largely responsible for installing the faÁade of the Freedom Center.

"I knew when I first heard it was going to be built here that I wanted to be a part of the Freedom Center," Hodge said. "I was willing to go in at any level.

"This is probably the biggest job I've worked on," he said. "I can't wait to get started."

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com