Built Environment Collaborative outlines $10 million ARPA‑funded plan to boost Cleveland trades and MBEs

Renee Timberlake, of the Built Environment Collaborative (powered by Greater Cleveland Works), told the Cuyahoga County Equity Commission on Nov. 20 that the program is supported by a $10,000,000 allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the city of Cleveland to expand workforce and minority‑business supports.

Timberlake said the Collaborative's goals include increasing the number of Cleveland residents working in building trades and related careers, and connecting minority business enterprises (MBEs) to capacity‑building resources. She described quarterly performance benchmarks — a recent participant count of "152," demographic targets (about 65% Black Cleveland residents, 13% Latinx and 30% women), and program goals of roughly 800 "grant‑impacted placements" and 150 MBEs connected to services.

"The city of Cleveland gave Greater Cleveland Works $10,000,000 to operate the Built Environment Collaborative," Timberlake said. She explained how the money is allocated: about $8,000,000 for program support across multiple training providers; $1,000,000 for MBE development; and $1,000,000 for a barrier removal fund that pays for items such as tools, steel‑toe boots, driver's license reinstatement, repairs and limited housing assistance.

Timberlake described barrier fund uses with concrete examples: partial down payments for vehicle purchase, truck repairs and payment of an uninsured collision balance and license‑reinstatement fees for one MBE owner, which Timberlake said enabled that owner to open a business bank account and bid for subcontracts.

She said the Collaborative initially limited services to City of Cleveland residents and that this residency restriction had excluded nearby residents (for example, from Cleveland Heights). To expand eligibility for the barrier removal fund to county residents participating in the Collaborative, Timberlake announced a $60,000 grant from the Cleveland Foundation to augment the barrier fund for countywide participants.

Carrie Miller, executive director of the Hebrew Free Loan Association (HFLA), described HFLA's role as a nonprofit lender in the partnership: offering interest‑free loans, expanded loan maximums within the partnership (from $20,000 to $40,000), and technical assistance coordinated with business support organizations. Miller said the partnership produced 14 applications and nine loans to date through the program, with $251,000 in lending through the HFLA partnership.

Commissioners asked about outreach to justice‑involved individuals and responses from local trades. Timberlake said partner organizations (Towards Employment, Urban League, Cleveland Builds) make referrals and that unions generally maintain entry requirements (diploma/GED, drug test, license) but are hiring and remain an important pipeline.

The presentation closed with commissioners thanking the presenters and encouraging continued collaboration with county departments.

The commission did not take formal action on the presentation itself; the program updates were received for information.