On December 12th, small business Pride Pipe & Supply announced its launch and made history as the first Black-owned heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company to open in the Midwest region. Leading up to its launch, Pride Pipe & Supply received fundamental support from both Related Midwest and nonprofit HIRE360, including receiving investments and invaluable industry connections. With a goal to help open the door for more minority- and women-owned businesses in the Chicago area, HIRE360—which Related Midwest is a founding partner of—helped establish a strategic partnership between Pride Pipe & Supply and air conditioning world leader Trane. The new relationship has already benefitted Pride Pipe & Supply by leading to new contract opportunities with developers, and it has also set a precedent for other MWBEs to make meaningful progress in the industry.
