Build It Back Program

Build It Back Program

Queens, New York

Velez Organization is providing construction management services with Tishman Construction for the Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office (HRO) Build It Back Sandy housing recovery program for the borough of Queens.  The Program is managed by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC). The program provides CDBG-DR funding to Sandy-impacted homeowners for permanent repairs and resilient measures including home elevations, repair or full reconstruction with elevation.

The Build It Back Howard Beach office houses an integrated team consisting of HRO, DDC, Tishman and Velez staff.  To date, the team has been assigned over 400 Sandy-damaged homes requiring rehabilitation, elevation and reconstruction work.

The BIB Program has comprehensive goals as it relates to MWBE inclusion and strong local workforce hiring requirements.

We are working together to achieve the goals of the program by:

• Working collaboratively with the agencies involved to increase MWBE participation in NYCDDC’s Prequalified Bidders List
• Participating in local and program wide Outreach events to increase utilization
• Identifying prime contract opportunities for MWBE firms for design, construction management and construction
• Spearheading local workforce hiring from Hurricane Sandy affected zip codes, and working with NYC agency programs like Workforce1.