HAZELWOOD, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
MoDOT is targeting a chunk of federal stimulus money to build sidewalks and accessible ramps along three major north St. Louis County roads. The project will do more than improve safety for pedestrians. North Lindbergh in Hazelwood is far from a friendly thoroughfare for anyone navigating it on foot or in a wheelchair. But that's about to change.
MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger announced Friday morning, "We are here to break ground on another American Recovery and Re-investment Act project or 'stimulus' as many of us know it."
$1.6 million worth of federal funds will finance the project, improve safety and accessibility and keep construction crews working. It's the type of work even big firms are looking for.
X-L Contracting Company Owner Ken Novel explains, "Since things have slowed up here lately in the construction trade, it's a lot more competitive. A lot of the bigger businesses are stepping down into our territory to bid on work they normally wouldn't have done before."
Novel, a minority contractor, won the bid.
Hassinger says, "It's fairly rare that one of our disadvantaged business enterprises competes and actually is the prime contractor, so Ken has gone through that process with us and we are thrilled to death to see that he has competed and won as a prime contractor."
MoDOT has taken some heat for its minority hiring goals, but officials say they are simply following federal rules. Novel is a graduate of MoDOT's Minority Business Training Program, "They went through everything from financing and bidding and things like that, so they really stood behind us and helped us out and the program was great."
So not only will this chunk of stimulus money keep workers on the job and meet a public need, it is also helping a minority business flourish. The project also calls for similar sidewalk construction along St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann, and Halls Ferry in Florissant.
MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger announced Friday morning, "We are here to break ground on another American Recovery and Re-investment Act project or 'stimulus' as many of us know it."
$1.6 million worth of federal funds will finance the project, improve safety and accessibility and keep construction crews working. It's the type of work even big firms are looking for.
X-L Contracting Company Owner Ken Novel explains, "Since things have slowed up here lately in the construction trade, it's a lot more competitive. A lot of the bigger businesses are stepping down into our territory to bid on work they normally wouldn't have done before."
Novel, a minority contractor, won the bid.
Hassinger says, "It's fairly rare that one of our disadvantaged business enterprises competes and actually is the prime contractor, so Ken has gone through that process with us and we are thrilled to death to see that he has competed and won as a prime contractor."
MoDOT has taken some heat for its minority hiring goals, but officials say they are simply following federal rules. Novel is a graduate of MoDOT's Minority Business Training Program, "They went through everything from financing and bidding and things like that, so they really stood behind us and helped us out and the program was great."
So not only will this chunk of stimulus money keep workers on the job and meet a public need, it is also helping a minority business flourish. The project also calls for similar sidewalk construction along St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann, and Halls Ferry in Florissant.
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