MGM Mirage to host workshop for minority businesses

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000 | 12:34 p.m.

Responding to criticism by the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, MGM Mirage is hosting an event linking the company's general contractors with minority-owned construction companies.

Thursday's scheduled half-day gathering is an attempt to develop new business relationships for the gaming giant after it acknowledged a lack of spending on black-owned Las Vegas businesses.

MGM Mirage Co-Chief Executive Dan Wade said the development of diverse business relationships is a top priority.

In May, when Nevada regulators approved MGM Grand's $6.4 billion purchase of Mirage Resorts, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People criticized the company's management.

MGM Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni said at the time that his company was not spending enough money on black-owned businesses and promised improvement.

Gene Collins, president of the NAACP's Las Vegas chapter, later called on MGM Mirage to fund a $100 million West Las Vegas community reinvestment plan, which included a housing master plan, small-business assistance and infrastructure creation.

In a six-page letter of response, Wade noted that the NAACP's demands were outside the responsibility of any one company. Wade, however, promised that his company would continue its minority employment efforts and expand business opportunities for black and other minority vendors.

MGM Mirage required its contractors to include a minority component in all future construction contracts, and to establish task forces with minority business organizations to implement that new requirement.