Emotions can run deep over Columbia's proposed Manhattanville expansion, so let's all first inhale deeply, hold it at the top of our lungs, and exhale slowly...

No matter what one's personal feelings toward the development project are, we can pretty much assume that it is going to happen. So why not take advantage of the opportunities it presents? As our economy looks a little thin, Columbia is ready to dump $7 billion worth of development into our backyard.

To help make sure that Harlem talent can get in on the activities, Columbia appointed La-Verna Fountain as its new associate vice president for construction business services. Fountain looks at the project as an "expanded opportunity for local businesses and for local people to have good jobs." The addition of 1,200 construction-related jobs a year for more than two decades is just at start.

Columbia's Minority and Women Owned Business initiatives has a 25 percent goal for total construction, maintenance and repair spending—15 percent minority, 5 percent women and 5 percent local. in the past two years alone, purchasing relationships with vendors, consulting agreements for services, and contracting for construction, renovation and repair services under the initiative have been worth $127 million.

I'll post on informational sessions or upcoming opportunities when I know of them, but I strongly encourage anyone interested in potential opportunities to contact Columbia sooner than later.