NORFOLK SOUTHERN HIRES MINORITY-OWNED CONTRACTORS

 NORFOLK SOUTHERN HIRES MINORITY-OWNED CONTRACTORS

Next steps include beautification, job opportunities, and local philanthropic engagement

CHICAGO – Norfolk Southern announced the hiring of two minority-owned contractors, one of which is also woman-owned, for work south of Garfield Blvd. at its 47th Street Intermodal Facility. The contractors, Syte Corporation and Twenty Eleven Construction, have begun work with Norfolk Southern to enhance the components of the project, such as stockpile management, landscaping, and sidewalk improvements in the surrounding area. Norfolk Southern has allocated $4 million to these two contractors, part of a total $10 million allocated to minority-owned and women-owned contractors across Chicago.

“Norfolk Southern made a commitment to the community to expand on opportunities for minority- and women-owned firms,” said Jackie Corletto, Assistant Vice President of Sourcing at Norfolk Southern. “These contractors join other minority-owned contractors and sub-contractors currently working with our team on projects across the Chicago region, and furthers Norfolk Southern’s dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion across our operations.”

“After 30 years of being in business, I can tell you that no one succeeds alone,” says Mario L. Short, CEO of SYTE Corporation. “Working with Norfolk Southern has allowed us to further our mission to build a healthy and robust ecosystem of effective M/WBE firms that will hire and train individuals from the surrounding Chicagoland communities.”

“Twenty Eleven Construction enthusiastically partnered with STYE Construction, which led forth exciting opportunities for growth, skills development, and a positive community impact,” said Vanessa Rhodes, President at Twenty Eleven Construction. “The community impact of this partnership is substantial. “It contributed to economic empowerment by generating jobs and income, fostering skill development, and nurturing a sense of community ownership among residents. Our team was proud to say they worked on a project right in their very own community.”

Norfolk Southern has hired 70 employees in 2023 to perform work at all of its Chicago-based facilities, to date. Additionally, Norfolk Southern announced several local investments and developments including:

$2.75 million in cumulative contributions from Norfolk Southern toward the Neighborhood Investment Fund that will be used for community beautification and investment, including in Englewood.

New landscaping and sidewalks along Garfield Blvd. and 59th street began October 19th, performed by Twenty Eleven Construction.

Fencing of the perimeter of the expansion footprint occurred in early July 2023.

Thus far in 2023, Norfolk Southern has contributed $383,000 to the Chicago nonprofit community in the form of grants, sponsorships, and memberships.

In the year ahead, Norfolk Southern will further engage the community on economic, social, and beautification projects. The expanded facility at 47th Street will contract an estimated $85 million in biddable work over the next decade and ultimately employ several dozen people.

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

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