Regional developer unveils construction firm
Jonathan Bowser has worn many hats in economic and real estate development in Central Pennsylvania. He is now trying on a new one: President, CEO and majority owner of a construction management company,
Bowser has launched Steel Works Construction, which has offices in Wormleysburg and Steelton, where Bowser grew up and still has family.
The new business will support projects undertaken by Bowser's other company, Integrated Development Partners. And it hopes to take on projects for other clients, primarily in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York counties, Bowser said in an interview.
He also sees the company playing a role in addressing the challenges faced by the region's minority- and women-owned contractors.
Progress has been made over the years, Bowser said. And in the wake of 2020's protests for social and racial justice, more companies are hiring diversity officers and setting goals for diverse vendors.
But, Bowser said, "There's still a lot of work that needs to be done."
Why a new company: Bowser described Steel Works Construction as a natural outgrowth of the work undertaken by Integrated Development Partners, or IDP, where he is joined by partners Michael Kennedy and Justin Kuhn.
Bowser manages construction work for IDP, which has launched numerous projects around the region.
Other companies were approaching him about providing construction management services and Bowser began to see the potential for a minority-controlled firm in the field.
"The one thing that we kept hearing over and over is that there's not enough minority- and women-owned contactors" for companies trying to meet diversity goals, Bowser said.
Bowser holds a majority stake in Steel Works Construction, named for a mixed-use IDP project under way in Steelton. He declined to name the other investors.
The company is pursuing certifications as a minority business enterprise and disadvantaged business enterprise, he added.
What's next: Bowser -- former head of the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp. -- is hiring staff to manage field work and administrative functions at Steel Works.
He said he also is leaning on resources at IDP, as well as joint ventures with other contractors, including York County-based Inch & Co. and Cumberland County-based Front Porch Builders.
Steel Works is partnering with Inch, for example, on a multifamily project called Hampden Terminal in Hampden Township, Cumberland County.
Other projects for Steel Works include IDP's conversion of a former Salvation Army building in Midtown Harrisburg into loft apartments.
What about diversity: It is not just a matter of supply, Bowser said.
There are many small women and minority-owned firms, he said. But they may have trouble connecting with larger firms or with meeting requirements for things like insurance.
Solutions are possible, such as helping small contractors figure out ways to cover upfront costs associated with bidding for new work, he said. "There are some creative things that can be done."
The need for diverse contractors, meanwhile, could become more acute as the federal government starts showering money on highway, utility and other projects funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law on Monday.
Bowser said he also sees opportunity in the rising amount of funding for affordable-housing projects.