J Jeffers & Co officially broke ground on Colman Yards and verified that all workers will be Illinois contractors and developers. The $430 million project to renovate the 26-acre Barber Colman site is located in Rockford. Minority, women, veteran, and disadvantaged firms account for 20-30% of labour involvement during the building phase. The $430 million project to renovate the 26-acre Barber Colman site in Rockford is already underway.
The developer is also compelled to pay prevailing wages, which are the statutory minimum wages on public projects that often match union rates, under both state regulations and the conditions of the redevelopment agreement it has with the city.
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ENC Construction & Development of Chicago is the project’s general contractor. During construction, the development team anticipates between 20% and 30% involvement by minority, woman, veteran, and disadvantaged business firms. The project is projected to employ 400 full-time construction workers.
“The site was once the home of a thriving multi-national company and a centre for innovation,” stated J. Jeffers & Co. CEO Joshua Jeffers in a news statement. “We are thrilled to continue the tradition by reimagining Barber-Colman as a modern neighbourhood with authentic historic fabric.”
More details on the Colman Yards project
The plan involves the renovation of nine historic manufacturing buildings, new construction, and site work. There will be 400 full-time equivalent construction jobs created. Phase 1-A will take roughly two years to complete, with Phase 2 starting 12 months after.
Colman Yards, a planned residential, business, recreational, retail, and public green space neighbourhood, has been named after the 26-acre Barber-Colman property, which has been empty for more than 20 years.
“We have always pushed this developer, along with every other developer, to use as much local labor as humanely possible,” Mayor Tom McNamara said Friday in a phone interview. “We want local folks on the job, and I am thrilled to hear that this project with the announcement is 100% Illinois workers.”
