What GMA Construction Group does

GMA Construction Group is a Chicago-headquartered general contractor, construction manager, and design-builder founded in 2009 by Cornelius Griggs. The firm delivers projects across general contracting, construction management, design-build, cost engineering/estimating, and preconstruction services, organized around five primary vertical segments: federal government, housing authorities and developers, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. As of the latest disclosed data, GMA operates from three offices (Chicago headquarters, Dallas regional headquarters, and New York), employs approximately 60 full-time professionals supplemented by 22 community hires serving as laborers, and holds a backlog of work valued at $450 million against a $250 million bonding capacity. The firm has delivered 2,500 affordable housing units, 13 healthcare facilities, and $200 million in learning environments across eight distinct sectors.

GMA's competitive identity rests on four stacking certifications — Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Section 3 Business Concern — that grant preferential access to federal, state, local, and HUD-funded procurements. The firm reports 42% average M/WBE participation on its projects, 64% of work in disadvantaged communities, and 65% of gross pay distributed to minority employees (50% Black, 8% Latinx, 7% Asian), with 30% to women. Named clients include the General Services Administration, Air National Guard, National Park Service, Chicago Housing Authority, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Cook County Health, and Related Midwest.

GMA's go-to-market is sales-led and entirely direct, targeting enterprise and institutional buyers through relationship-driven business development and public procurement. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts (general contracting fees, construction management fees, design-build, and professional services) with no standard pricing tiers disclosed. Workforce development is integral to the model: founder Cornelius Griggs chairs the Construction Management degree program at Kennedy-King College (City Colleges of Chicago), and the firm operates Griggs University internal training, an internship pipeline, the CREATE Program with Austin College and Career Academy, and an Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program for diverse subcontractors. The firm is ranked the 67th largest general contractor in the Midwest by Engineering News-Record and has received Procore Groundbreaker of the Year (2024), Procore Groundbreaker Excellence in Community (2023), Crain's Chicago Business notable leader recognitions, SBA Illinois Person of the Year, and an ABCIL Excellence in Construction award.

Name

GMA Construction Group

Legal name

GMA Construction Group

Website

https://gmaconstructiongroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GMA Construction Group is a Chicago-based MBE/VOSB/DBE-certified general contractor, construction manager, and design-builder serving federal, healthcare, education, housing authority, and community-based clients across the U.S. from offices in Illinois, Texas, and New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC), Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF), Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG), Education & Public Sector Interior Fit-Out (IMAFANAD)

Keywords

• General contracting services
• Construction management
• Design-build construction
• Affordable housing construction
• Public sector construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Contracting Services: Traditional general contractor services where GMA controls the construction process and manages trade subcontractors to deliver projects on time and within budget.
2. Construction Management: Construction management services providing accountability, transparency, and hands-on approach throughout project phases.
3. Design-Build: Combined design and construction phases to maximize efficiency while assuming project risk.
4. Cost Engineering/Estimating: Estimating and cost verification services at various stages of the construction process.
5. Preconstruction Services: Preconstruction phase services including budgeting, cost estimates, and cost-saving solutions before construction begins.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GMA Construction Group is a General Contractor, Construction Manager, and Design-Builder that delivers commercial construction projects for public-sector and institutional clients. The firm provides full preconstruction and construction-phase services including cost estimating, design-build delivery, construction management, and general contracting across housing, healthcare, education, federal government, aviation, and community development sectors. It is certified as an MBE, VOSB, DBE, and Section 3 Business Concern, enabling preferential access to diversity-focused public contracts.

Product overview

GMA Construction Group is a General Contractor, Construction Manager, and Design-Builder that operates as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Section 3 Business Concern. Founded in 2009, the company offers core services including General Contractor Services, Construction Management, Design-Build, Cost Engineering, and Preconstruction Services. The company focuses on several construction sectors including Affordable Housing, Healthcare Facilities, Education, Federal Government Projects, and Community Development. GMA also operates workforce development programs including Griggs University (internal training), an Internship Program, and the CREATE Program partnership. Projects span across eight unique sectors with offices in Illinois, Texas, and New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Contractor Services As a general contractor, GMA controls the construction process and outcome, leading trade partners to successful project completion on time and within budget. Offered to federal, state, local, healthcare, education, and developer clients.
• Construction Management Accountability, transparency, and a proactive, hands-on approach throughout all construction project phases, provided to institutional and public-sector owners.
• Design-Build Combines the design and construction phases of projects to maximize efficiency while GMA assumes project risk. Designed for owners who want a single point of accountability.
• Cost Engineering Preparation of estimates and verification of proposed construction costs at various stages of the construction process. Used to validate budgets and control scope throughout a project's life cycle.
• Preconstruction Services Budgeting, cost estimates, cost-saving solutions, design team collaboration, and subcontractor procurement delivered before construction begins.
• Affordable Housing Construction Construction and renovation of affordable housing including mixed-income developments, senior housing, and veteran housing, delivered for housing authorities and developers. Portfolio includes 2,500+ affordable housing units delivered.
• Healthcare Facility Construction Construction and renovation of healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, and wellness centers, delivered for health systems and academic medical centers. Portfolio includes 13 healthcare facilities delivered.
• Education Facility Construction Construction of educational facilities including schools, colleges, learning centers, and early childhood development centers. Portfolio includes $200 million in learning environments delivered.
• Federal Government Construction Construction services for federal government clients including work for the Air National Guard, General Services Administration, and National Park Service.
• Aviation Construction Construction services for aviation infrastructure including airport terminals, concessions, and taxiway projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42% Average M/WBE Participation on all projects
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Black Men UnitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGMA partners with Black Men United for annual toy drives providing children near jobsites with toys and necessities during the holidays. This community engagement partnership supports GMA's mission of community transformation.
• Introspect Youth Services TRIO ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThis youth services program was instrumental in founder Cornelius Griggs' early development, providing mentorship and fostering his interest in STEM fields. This connection shaped GMA's mission and community focus.
• City Colleges of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMA President Cornelius Griggs served as Program Chair and Professor establishing the Construction Management Degree Program at Kennedy-King College. GMA also uses this program for employee training development.
• Austin College and Career AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the CREATE Program to support, encourage, and promote student interest in engineering careers as part of community development initiatives.
• Illinois TollwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMA established the Technical Assistance Program with Illinois Tollway to provide comprehensive assistance to small, diverse businesses looking to win work with the tollway, supporting diverse business development.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Gilbane Building Company: Large national construction manager and design-builder with deep healthcare, education, and federal presence. Competes with GMA on institutional CM/design-build pursuits but operates at far greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Turner Construction Company: Largest US commercial GC by revenue with significant healthcare, education, and federal work. Competes with GMA on institutional healthcare and higher-education projects at much greater scale.
• Clark Construction Group: Large national GC with strong federal building, GSA, and institutional portfolio. Competes with GMA for federal renovation and historic preservation work at much larger scale.
• AECOM (Construction Services): Global construction management and design-build firm with substantial federal, transportation, and institutional infrastructure portfolio. Competes with GMA on large federal CM/design-build pursuits.
• Walsh Construction: Major Chicago-based national general contractor with substantial federal, institutional, healthcare, and transit portfolios. Operates at significantly larger scale but competes head-to-head with GMA on regional Midwest public-sector work.
• Mortenson Construction: Major Midwest-headquartered national GC with significant healthcare, higher-education, and renewable/transit federal work. Competes for institutional contracts in the same geographies GMA serves.

Direct peers

• Bulley & Andrews: Chicago-based general contractor operating in nonresidential building, healthcare, cultural, and higher-education construction. Comparable on project type, regional footprint, and design-build delivery.
• Power Construction Company: Chicago-headquartered general contractor with comparable institutional, healthcare, and higher-education project portfolio. Operates in the same Midwest nonresidential GC market where GMA is ranked 67th.
• UJAMAA Construction: Chicago-based MBE-certified general contractor focused on community-impact construction, federal, and institutional projects. Closest like-for-like peer to GMA in geography, certification set, mission orientation, and project scope.
• McKissack & McKissack: Long-standing African American-owned construction management firm serving federal, healthcare, education, and cultural clients. Directly comparable on MBE positioning, federal pipeline, and design-build/CM delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gma-construction-group
• Xx.com/GMABuilds

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GMA Construction Group