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Marlins Partner With African-American Businesses

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Mar 13, 2009 5:27 pm US/Eastern

Marlins Partner With African-American Businesses

MIAMI (CBS4) ― The Florida Marlins, the NAACP along with the county Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday a partnership which would commit the baseball team to hiring black-owned businesses for fifteen percent of its stadium-related contracts.

Such a contribution would apply to both the $155 million the team is paying toward construction and operating contracts that would continue if the park is built as planned.

"I think it's absolutely phenomenal," said Adrian Foster, a co-owner of Foster Construction of South Florida. "I think its something that the South Florida market needs."

Foster hopes to be one of the main contractors for the Marlins stadium. She says until now, black-owned businesses have had a real challenge getting this type of projects in Dade County.

"People like doing business with people who normally look like them or people that they like," said Foster. "And for black owned businesses we just need the opportunity to show yes we can do it. I may not look like you, but I'm good at my craft."

Business leaders say this is an historic move. But David Samson, president of the Florida Marlins said it's sad that it took this long to change the way Miami does business.

"Lets make sure that everyone gets their fair share of the pie because that is the way frankly that we will build our business and that is the way we will build our community," said Samson. "I guarantee you it changes what takes place from this moment forward because when corporations look at what we've done they will say yes we can we can do this also."

The team, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People signed the deal at Jungle Island in a ceremony.

Among those present: Bill Diggs, president of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Bishop Victor T. Curry, president of the NAACP, and other community leaders.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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