With construction continuing on Citi Field, the new home for the New York Mets expected to open for the beginning of the 2009 season, David Howard, Mets Executive Vice President, Business Operations, spoke recently at Queens College’s Business Forum about the construction progress as well as the buzz surrounding the team.
Howard told the more than 100 people in attendance how Citi Field was going to be exponentially better than Shea Stadium was in every way as well as a positive impact for the community.
“The benefits to the borough, city and state are very significant creating thousands of new jobs,” Howard said.
More than 6,000 construction jobs and nearly 1,000 permanent jobs will likely be created by the project. Currently, the Mets have awarded two-thirds of the construction contracts with approximately 42 percent of them going to Queens-based companies, a prideful Howard reported. During his talk, Howard reiterated the Mets commitment to award 25 percent of the contracts to minority and women-owned businesses.
In addition to Howard’s keynote address, Queens College presented two women, Estelle Cooper, Assistant Commissioner for Queens Parks & Recreation, and Pat Dolan, President of the Kew Gardens Civic Association with its Civic Leadership Award and for their contributions to help make Queens a better community.
The Queens College Business Forum, which began in 2005, has brought together business leaders from various Queens industries, political and community leaders, faculty and students to serve as a catalyst for the different groups to interact.
Mets VP proud about Citi Field stadium
By Pete Davis
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