The Impact of Section 3 Certification: Connecting Businesses for Community Development

The Community Builders, Inc. and their general contractor, Sota Construction, awarded $1.8 million in subcontracts to Section 3 Certified businesses working on East Liberty Place South (ELPS). ELPS is a 52-unit, mixed-use, mixed-income apartment building located in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh.

Construction on the property was completed last month. Sota Construction committed 25% of the dollar value of all subcontracts on the project to Section 3 businesses, making the entire $9.8 million general contract eligible for a Section 3 contracting preference.

Section 3 businesses performed the electrical work; installed metal studs, drywall, insulation, acoustical ceilings; and provided both landscaping and cleaning.

James Eby, Senior Project Manager at The Community Builders, Inc. provided the following testimonial on his experience with Section 3 Certification. The Community Builders, Inc. acted as the developer in the ELPS project:

“I want to thank RHLS for taking the initiative to implement the Section 3 Certification program clearinghouse in Allegheny County. I believe our higher achievement in reaching Section 3 hiring and contract goals on our current project, versus previous ones we had built in the Pittsburgh area, is a direct result of the information bank and referral system RHLS put together. In the past there was no central resource to identify who is out there, and it was a frustrating task to search out Section 3 businesses and to help those we thought might qualify to be certified.”

If you are a developer or contractor looking to identify more Section 3 businesses to work on your projects, visit the RHLS Section 3 Database today!