Xenia Community Schools Launches Outreach Program for Construction Project

Local construction vendors are invited by the Xenia Board of Education to attend a meeting to learn about submitting successful bids in the district’s proposed $54 million construction project involving five new grade schools funded by the State of Ohio and matching local funds raised by Issue 28.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Xenia Board of Education Conference Room, 578 E. Market St., Xenia.

The meeting will be the first in a series involving the building of five new elementary schools based on the outcome of Issue 28 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
 
“The Xenia Board of Education has set an aspiration goal of 25 percent for including local vendors and companies in the building project,” Xenia Community Schools Supt. Jeffrey K. Lewis, Ed.D., said. “The proposed $54 million project equals $27 million in construction and an estimated $24 million in labor costs.  The Ohio School Facilities Commission uses a figure of 11 jobs per million dollars of construction costs---equaling 130 individuals could be local workers.”

Benjamin Pintabona, senior project manager, Scaparotti Construction Group, will describe the school building project, detail how local vendors and contractors can keep abreast of the design and bidding process and how to contact design professionals regarding reviewing their products for inclusion in the bidding proposals.

Information will also be shared about the State of Ohio’s EDGE program, which helps small and start-up companies participate in State construction projects.

In the future, a Trades Fair for local students and residents who are interested in learning about the construction industry will be held. Attendees will be provided with information on how to enter into apprenticeships for a particular program and will receive resources to start them on the process.

Local area businesses seeking subcontracting opportunities will be included in a future Subcontractor Matchmaker Session and have the opportunity to speak to larger firms involved in the bidding process to evaluate how their companies may participate. 

Construction Employment Fairs will target individuals who are interested in general labor employment.

For more information about any of the construction meetings or opportunities, call Pintabona at 1-440-997-5215.