The Franklin County Crisis Care Center construction project has exceeded its supplier diversity goal of 18% percent with 29.9 % of all construction contracts, totaling $13 million, awarded to small and emerging businesses.
Led by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH), the crisis center reflects a community-wide investment to address the growing need for mental health and addiction crisis services. Franklin County is experiencing high fatal overdose and emergency hospitalization rates, and it is estimated that Central Ohio will see a 23% increase in demand for mental health and addiction services over the next 10 years.
“Since the inception of the crisis center, ADAMH and our partners have been committed to supplier diversity and expanding opportunity through the construction project,” said ADAMH CEO Erika Clark Jones. “The crisis center has been planned and funded by the community to provide equitable, accessible care for all. It is equally important that the facility’s construction opportunities are accessible to all qualified businesses.”
Engagement with small and emerging businesses was a purposeful strategy. ADAMH and its construction team, led by Hammes Healthcare, CK Construction/Elford, Velocity Construction Services, LLC and Ginger Cunningham & Associates worked in collaboration with Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The team hosted 28 outreach activities to ensure that local minority, female, veteran and disadvantaged businesses understood the many opportunities presented with the development of the new crisis care center.
As a result of those efforts, 17 small and emerging businesses are part of the project. Services they will provide include concrete, masonry, plumbing and HVAC, drywall, electrical, fireproofing, carpentry and trucking.
“I am extremely pleased with where we are as a project team in economic inclusion at this point in the Franklin County Crisis Center development, but I will not be satisfied until the last contract is awarded and we have reached the highest level of SEBE participation possible,” said Franklin County Administrator Kenneth N. Wilson.
“I appreciate the efforts of Franklin County and ADAMH to strive for participation for companies like us – small businesses, not just minority-owned. Everyone is trying to grow, get better and do better. Of course, it is up to us to do our part and make sure we perform,” said O. Jerome Buckner, president for Buckner & Sons Masonry, LLC, which will complete the masonry work for the brick exterior on the crisis center’s façade.
Construction for the $59.9 million crisis center began in April at 465 Harmon Ave. When it opens in 2025, the more than 70 thousand-square-foot facility will serve up to 80 individuals at any point in time and offer an array of critical crisis intervention services through walk-in, 23-hour observation and inpatient units. The center will offer a no-wrong-door approach to ensure that any adult arriving at the crisis center receives services regardless of ability to pay.
For a full list of Franklin County Crisis Care Center small and emerging business partners, visit: adamhfranklin.org/crisis-center/supplier-diversity.