On February 28, the city and county of Denver released a request for proposal (RFP) for ON-CALL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL WESTERN CENTER CAMPUS PLACEMAKING STUDY. This is primarily a planning and preliminary engineering scope of work, to be completed in advance of a larger RFQ to complete design and construction. Details of plans for the National Western Center can be found on the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative website.

Within the depths of this RFP are mandates and goals for training and hiring companies and staff from neighborhoods impacted by this project. Family Environmental intends to engage with the city/county to support environmental project work for this revamp at National Western, which is within our own neighborhood. However, Family also hopes to take advantage of this investment in north Denver to provide a forum for training those left behind by our collective economic advancement, including those rehabilitated from previous criminal convictions which has severely limited their job opportunities. Family Environmental has also been actively looking to train and hire veterans. We hope that investments to upgrade and expand the National Western Center can trigger support for these much needed workforce training programs.