THOR Companies, Minnesota's largest minority-owned firm, is playing in the big leagues of Super Bowl sponsorships.
THOR has contributed $1.3 million to be one of 23 "founding partners" of the event.
"As a founding partner, THOR Companies joins with other major Minnesota companies in contributing to the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee's efforts to make the Super Bowl experience accessible and enjoyable to all Minnesotans," Chairman Richard Copeland said in a press statement.
The sponsorship dollars help pay for community-related events and activities the host committee has scheduled to take place in the weeks leading to the big game on Feb. 4, as well as staffing and infrastructure costs associated with those activities.
THOR is the first African-American owned company to ever be involved at such a high level of sponsorship with a Super Bowl host committee organization, Copeland said.
THOR, which also worked on the Vikings stadium, was hired by Noel Lesley Event Services, the NFL's general contractor for Super Bowl-related staging and construction, to supply construction labor and obtain requisite municipal permits.
"[THOR] is working especially hard with the host community to reach out to minority communities, welcoming and encouraging them to participate in any and all of the community-focused Super Bowl activities on tap in the Twin Cities in the coming weeks," said Lea Hargett, vice president of THOR Consulting.
Other founding partners include Land O'Lakes, H.B. Fuller, Mayo Clinic, Love Your Melon, Sleep Number, Xcel Energy and CHS.
THOR, which operates development, construction, real estate management and consulting divisions, has revenue of $275 million.