The Lumbee Tribe recently joined the contractor and sub-contractors who are working on the Tribal Housing Complex located on Hwy 711. The tribe is proud to announce that the subcontractors are local companies and employees.
“I am extremely proud to see, every time I visit this site, that local people are out here working,” states Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins. ”It’s about keeping our workers employed, so people can put food on the table, or pay the light bill and mortgage, and keeping these jobs local is an investment in ourselves and our communities,” further states Chairman Goins.
While keeping the jobs local is a priority, Tribal Chairman says he knows many of our contractors are just working to pay bills, and not a profit, because our local contractors have consistently given the Tribe the most responsible bid. “I want the membership, and our friends to know that when we release these jobs under public notices for bids, we get responses all the way from California; companies looking for work,” says Chairman Jimmy Goins.
The Tribal Chairman also told the crowd in attendance, that he believed having locals on the job, meant the employees and the company would take greater pride in the tribal projects, because it’s for our community. The communities we all share. “I have heard many of our subcontractors express gratitude for the opportunity not only to work here at home, and not two hours away,” said Chairman Goins, “but also express appreciation for working on this particular project, the Tribal Housing Complex.”
According to the general contractor the project has provided employment approximately 220 people and 20 local subcontractors. “A number of those subcontractors have used dozens of people to complete the work,” said Metcon project manager Samantha Locklear. “It took about 55 people just to put up all the sheetrock in this building.”
The subcontractors in attendance include: M& R Electrical, Lowry Mechanical, Lowry Plumbing, Oxendine Steel, H & H Group of Robeson, Wood Beauty, Branch Acoustical, Locklear Contracting, Duncan Paint, Dorsey Landscape, C&L Insulation, Locklear Carpet, Dial Masonry, National Rebar, Portable Toilet, Pembroke Waste, Pembroke Hardware, Bruce Brayboy, Intram Company, and Ted’s Alarm & Lock.
The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has always believed a key to self sufficiency includes not only decent, safe and sanitary housing options, but also employment. During these difficult economic times, the Lumbee Tribe, when bidding and awarding contracts for our major capital projects, and single family units, only advertises within the tribal territory, so that local contractors, and sub-contractors, have first opportunity to find work with our projects.
The Lumbee Tribe furthermore encourages local, minority, disabled or women business owners to apply for any project when their services may be required. “During my administration, I have been proud of our local businesses, and being able to support them and their families with local jobs, particularly now,” said Chairman Goins. “And tribal members should be too, for we are not only investing in them with this building, but we’re investing in ourselves also, by keeping these projects locally, and spending this money locally.”
"FROM THE CHAIRMANS DESK"
Interviews done onsite by Tribal Chairman, Jimmy Goins
