Sponsors & Program Management

In late 2013, the City of Springfield and Sangamon County approved an intergovernmental agreement authorizing the implementation of the Minority Participation Plan, which later became the Grow Our Own Minority Participation Program. Hanson Professional Services Inc. was selected to administer and manage this program for a two-year term, with an option to extend the term in the future.

To help launch the program, the City and County agreed to contribute one third of the initiative’s costs along with Hanson. A fund was established at $60,000 per year to implement the program, with each sponsor giving $20,000 annually towards activities and expenses.

As the program’s manager, Hanson is charged with overseeing administration and routine operations. In its role, it recruits and selects participating youth and program partners; connects students with promising opportunities; organizes and staffs events and activities; provides mentoring and internships; and engages the community to grow public involvement and support. It also produces semi-annual progress reports that it provides to its partners and the community at-large as a means of tracking, measuring and publicizing the success of the program.