Nassau Coliseum developers to meet with firms

The team renovating the Nassau Coliseum and building an adjacent retail and entertainment plaza plan to meet this week with minority and women-owned firms who want to win work on the $261 million construction project.

Nassau Events Center, led by Bruce Ratner, executive chairman of Forest City Ratner Cos., will host a networking event with certified minority and women-owned businesses on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola.

Hunt Construction, Ratner's general contractor on the project, will also be in attendance to answer questions.

The event is co-hosted by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) and Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport).

"Inclusion of minority and women-owned enterprises is a priority on all of the projects we develop," Ratner said.

Ratner signed a letter with the county in 2013 indicating the firm planned to award a minimum of 20 percent of contracts to minority and women-owned businesses on both the arena and retail and entertainment complex.