Renovations are underway on Parade Street for the East Side Renaissance and on Saturday morning, there was a meeting to get minority contractors involved with the project.


Local contractors had the chance to learn how they could get involved with renovations happening in their own community.


Matthew Harris, one of the East Side Renaissance Founders said,  "The west side is doing great things, downtown is doing great things and on the east side we want to have that same energy, that same input, that same approach to including everyone as an all inclusive partnership within the community".


Founders of the East Side Renaissance spent an hour and a half explaining how minority contractors could get involved with the projects and answered questions about what it all would entail.


About two dozen contractors attended the meeting and while organizers were pleased with that number, they said they are always looking for more people in the community to get involved.

"We are excited with the turnout and as this process continues and as it goes on in our phases, we think the number is going to grow and we are going to encourage others to come be a part of this", said Harris.


One of the people who attended was Michael Woodard, a local general contractor and the owner of Woodard Construction, who is excited to be a part of the project. "You know this is a powerful movement for the community, that's definitely been needed around the area and I think this is going to be a definitely a big turnout for us and everyone around", said Woodard.


Woodard thinks this project won't just be good for the neighborhood, but the city as well.


"This is something that the city needs and not only for me, but the rest of the community to know that Erie is definitely becoming a stronger city", said Woodard.


Founders hope that more community members want to get involved with this movement.


Marcus Atkinson, another East Side Renaissance Founders said "This is a pathway for the entire community to get involved, this is the reason we started the East Side Renaissance, we wanted to create a vehicle that allowed people to be re-entered into the economic system right now."

 

To learn more or get involved click here.