Blueprint CLE, Cleveland's Mentor-Protégé Program
Blueprint CLE was developed as a strategic component of Cleveland’s Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO)
Developers and contractors receiving city assistance are required to provide mentorship and other benefits under CBAs.
This program fulfills the mentorship expectations outlined in these agreements. This initiative is not just a professional development tool—it’s a direct connection to real contracts, visibility, and growth within the City’s economic ecosystem.
Blueprint CLE is a 12-month structured mentorship program. It connects experienced developers, contractors, and business leaders (Mentors) with growth-oriented small businesses (Protégés).
- Designed to build capacity, expand opportunity, and foster strategic collaboration.
- Driven by real development activity in Cleveland.
- Provides a clear path from subcontractor to prime contractor readiness.
- Emphasizes long-term capacity-building—not just short-term engagement.
Benefits for Protégé
Blueprint CLE provides one-on-one tailored business mentorship. Through Blueprint CLE protégé will be have exposure to real estate development and constructions projects. Through strategic matchmaking that aligns to the field you are in you can gain insight on procurement, compliance, and growth strategies. Opportunities for increased bonding, insurance capacity, and workforce planning. Through this program you will have the tools to develop strategic partnerships and new business ventures.
Success Through Partnership
With Blueprint CLE, protégé may become collaborators or even mentors in the future. Being able to grow your contract portfolio, bond capacity, and technical capabilities. Positioning your business to compete as a prime contractor and be featured in future Community Benefits Impact Reports as a success story and gain recognition as a key player in Cleveland's transformation.
Eligibility & What We Look For
- Must be a Cleveland-based small business with at least 1 year of operations
- Demonstrated potential for growth and past performance
- Willingness to commit to quarterly reporting, active engagement, and professional development
- Open to sharing business needs and learning collaboratively
- Ideally positioned to scale or increase contracting capacity
- Capable of aligning with development project demands
If you meet the above criteria, call 216.664.4152 for more information.