South Cook News

Curtis Thompson, president of the National Association of Minorities Contractors Chicago Chapter, is heralding an educational program the organization is calling NAMC University.

"It's NAMC University, that's the name and training program for the Chicago Chapter NAMC," Thompson told South Cook News. "We look to develop contractors in helping to develop their expertise. So we have classroom training on things like estimating and insurance access to capital project management. Several other things in that curriculum just to help the contractor be a better contract."

"Also part of that is a workforce development piece, where we work to train young men and women, or just men and women, for careers in the construction trades," Thompson said. "So whether it's electrical, carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, it is an introduction to the trades and (will) have them ready for those opportunities. So it's really our training program for the contractor in you."

National Association of Minority Contractors Chicago Chapter President Curtis Thompson | Facebook

The Chicago chapter of NAMC has a minority contractor fair planned for March 28 at the Calumet Country Club. The regional chapter covers the state of Illinois and northwest Indiana.

"That will be an opportunity for minority contractors to interface with prime contractors looking to create networking opportunities," Thompson said. "They can get to know one another and get exposed to these opportunities that the prime contractors have in how they can engage with them to work on the multiple projects that happen in the greater Chicagoland region."

The location of Calumet Country Club is important in that the 133-acre site in Homewood will serve a minority population.

Included in the project is the Factory Town manufacturing complex, which will create modular housing for the area, Southland Film Studios and an aquaponics facility that will raise vegetables and fish for local consumption.

"The better prepared the contractors are, the workers are, the better enhances the possibilities of participating on these major projects that you are there other projects in the in the area," Thompson said. "So we're excited about the opportunity to partner on this project. But the work that we do on this project can have far reaching effects."