Women and Minority Businesses Learn About Renaissance Square Opportunities ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - Dozens of women and minority-owned business owners had a chance Thursday morning to learn about getting involved in the development of the Renaissance Square project.

An informational session was held at the Riverside Convention Center. Beverly Jackson is the project's compliance officer. She says if the companies want to share in the economic benefits of Renaissance Square, they need to be involved at "this kick-off stage."

Jackson says some of the women and minority firms at the informational meeting employ only two or three people, while others have annual sales of $10 million.

There are various diversity requirements for the hiring of contractors in the development of Renaissance Square. For instance, Jackson says at least ten-percent of the hires for the transit center must be women or minority-owned businesses, or other disadvantaged businesses.

Renaissance Square is far from a done-deal, however. City Council is currently considering whether to invoke eminent domain and prepare the downtown site for the project. © Copyright 2009, WXXI