The Belk Innovation in Diversity Award will be presented to Balfour Beatty Construction at the Charlotte Chamber's 2009 Annual Meeting. The award is presented by the chamber to a local business that has demonstrated innovative measures to improve diversity and inclusion in the work place.

Balfour Beatty has made the development and support of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) and Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) a part of its business strategy and has become an advocate of this important segment of the construction industry.

The company developed the Emerging Contractor Program to serve the Charlotte community by helping HUB and MWBE businesses within the construction industry gain the skills and experience necessary to take their businesses to the next level.

As part of this plan, Balfour Beatty teams with a selected minority construction management firm that will be responsible for oversight on various aspects throughout construction. The minority partner and its staff manages the scopes of work with Balfour Beatty provides additional oversight and instruction throughout the course of the project. After going through the complete process, these firms have gained the capability and skills to contract with clients independently on single prime projects. The program also includes a mentor-protégé component

The program fosters the growth of local companies and develops minority partners through the methodology of construction management. To date, Balfour Beatty has contracted or completed more than $350 million in projects with MWBE firms throughout North Carolina.

Balfour Beatty will receive the Belk Innovation in Diversity award during the chamber's Annual Meeting on November 16 at the Charlotte Convention Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (704) 378-1300 or visit www.charlottechamber.com/annualmeeting.