A construction company that is helping restore the State Capitol is making progress on efforts to hire more women and minorities, four months after it got a failing grade from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey met with JE Dunn's new diversity manager Monday and was briefed on JE Dunn's progress, including working closely with its sub-contractors.

"We are pleased with JE Dunn's good faith efforts to improve their workforce participation," Lindsey said in a statement.

According to the Department of Human Rights, JE Dunn's "good faith effort" plan include:

  • Meeting with its primary subcontractors to review work plans and discuss opportunities for minority hiring for the next phase which started in June.
  • JE Dunn will host a job fairs in the upcoming year. The first will be in January.
  • The company will host a Aug. 14 "kickoff event" on the Capitol lawn to "reach out to minority business, contractors and potential employees."

In March, JE Dunn was the only company failing to meet "good faith efforts" established by the state to diversify its workforce on state-funded projects. There are no companies currently failing compliance.