A Milwaukee Black-owned construction firm, JCP Construction, is tapped to lead the development of the new $9.5 million global headquarters of Bader Philanthropies, Inc., on Historic Martin Luther King Drive.
Bader Philanthropies has committed more than $265 million in funding to improve the quality of life in Milwaukee, since 1992.
JCP Construction has led other initiatives on King Drive and is committed to the area. JCP is owned by Milwaukee brothers, James, Clifton and Jalin Phelps. “It’s so rewarding to have seen this building since I was a kid and now have the opportunity to turn it into Bader headquarters, which will help them fulfill their mission of making Harambee and other local neighborhoods greater,” Phelps said.
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reports that this is the largest project to date for JCP.
JCP has subcontracted on several high-profile projects including the new Milwaukee Bucks arena, the Commons and Northwestern Mutual Tower. For Phelps, JCP’s selection to lead the project is evidence of the capacity within the minority community and workforce. “Those are just excuses being given as far as those who say that there aren’t enough capable minority-owned companies to take on large projects,” Phelps added.
JCP has also set an internal goal of beating standard minority participation rates on the project.
Thelma Sias, former We Energies vice president, said she’s seen firsthand that when people are given the opportunity, great things happen. “As other parts of Milwaukee are looking, seeking and wanting growth and development, the same is true for our community — and we have the talent to deliver that right here in the central city,” Sias said.
In August 2016 Bader announced that it would be relocating its new headquarters to Harambee and doubled down by also announcing that it would work with as many minority-owned businesses as possible and hire minority skilled and unskilled workers to build the new headquarters.
For more on Bader’s headquarters, visit Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
