A proposal going before the Prince George’s County Council next week mandates that 20 percent of all contracts for the Gaylord National Resort and Conventional Center be awarded to minority-owned businesses.
The change drew cheers, jeers and one promise to further negotiate terms from politicians, officials, the project’s developer and other leaders Thursday.
The bill, which mostly details the county’s issuance of $50 million in bonds to help with construction costs, originally called for 11 percent of work to be awarded to minority firms. Members of the Public Safety and Fiscal Management Committee voted 4-0 at a meeting Wednesday to increase minority participation to 20 percent if Gaylord wishes to add 500 roomsto its initial plan to build a 1,500-room hotel on a 300-acre parcel just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge along the Potomac River.
A Gaylord representative in Tennessee said the company was reviewing the information about the proposal but felt it was premature to comment.
County Executive Jack Johnson continues to discuss the proposed increase with the County Council, his spokesman said.
“The county executive is going to continue working with the County Council in hopes of reaching a compromise before the legislation is brought before the full council next Tuesday,” said Johnson spokesman John Erzen.
Council Member Samuel Dean, D-District 6, of Mitchellville, voted for the increase. Dean said Gaylord came to the council several months ago to seek additional funds for the project. The 20 percent in the bill mirrors minority requirements for other county construction projects such as schools and roads, Dean said, and is reasonable given the diversity that exists in Prince George’s.
“We have close to 900,000 people,” Dean said, “and I would assume that if they can’t find 20 percent, something is wrong.”
The president of the Baltimore-based MD Washington Minority Contractors Association said even 20 percent is too low for a project of National Harbor’s magnitude, especially when Johnson has cited 35 percent minority participation as a goal in the past.
“Why is he deviating from that stated goal with only 20 percent? It’s puzzling,” said Wayne R. Frazier Sr. “That’s extremely disappointing for the Johnson administration to fumble the football on this one.”
By the numbers
» $2 billion — total cost of project being built in Prince George’s County along the Potomac south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.
» $160 million — total infrastructure bonds issued by the county
» 300 acres — land to be developed into convention, marina, office, residential, resort and retail facilities
