Durham commissioners proclaim observance for women in construction; local leaders call for mentoring and MWBE outreach

The Durham County Board of Commissioners on Monday issued a resolution celebrating women in construction and heard from local contractors and trade groups about mentoring and workforce-development partnerships.

The resolution, presented during the board's ceremonial items by Commissioner Michelle Burton, recognized contributions by women in construction across Durham and the state and cited national labor statistics included in the resolution text. Commissioner Burton read the resolution in the regular session.

Why it matters: County officials and construction-industry representatives said increasing representation of women in trades could help address labor shortages and create career pathways for Durham youth. Commissioners and staff noted existing county efforts to set MWBE (minority- and women-owned business) participation goals for companies contracting in Durham and described outreach with local schools and Durham Tech.

During the presentation, a representative of a local African American woman-owned general contracting and construction-management firm told the board, “You cannot be what you cannot see,” and urged more visible role models and outreach in schools. Commissioner Burton asked whether mentoring and career-day partnerships exist; the speaker said the firm partners with Durham Public Schools and Durham Technical Community College on job-shadowing, donations and site tours. “So there are always opportunities to learn and we partner with other organizations … So please reach out,” the speaker said.

County staff and commissioners also highlighted work by the county’s MWBE outreach and partnerships with Durham Tech, the county’s economic development office and deputy county management to connect incoming companies with local MWBE firms. Assistant County Manager Tammy Hall and county staff were noted as conveners of outreach events; county officials said the county has set participation goals that it shares with new companies entering Durham.

The resolution text cited national statistics on pay and workforce share included in the draft (the text noted that women in construction earned an estimated 94.3% of male full-time wages in the construction sector versus 81.5% across other U.S. industries, and that women comprised 11.2% of the nation’s construction workforce in 2024) and referenced more than 14,000 North Carolina women working in construction in 2023 per U.S. Census Bureau figures. The board read and entered the resolution as part of the ceremonial items; no separate roll-call vote on the proclamation was recorded in the transcript.

Commissioners and invited guests said the recognition complements ongoing county efforts to expand access to trade careers for young people. Vice Chair Mike Lee, Commissioner Stephen Valentine and others praised the local firms and trade-association representatives for their outreach and said the county will continue to coordinate with Durham Tech and schools to grow pipelines.

Members of the United Minority Contractors Association and the National Association of Women in Construction participated in the ceremony and brief discussion following the proclamation. The exchange concluded with commissioners noting additional county-hosted events designed to showcase MWBE firms and trade opportunities for students.

The item closed with expressions of appreciation to the women and minority contractors who attended; county staff signaled continued follow-up through workforce and procurement offices.