Success Story: Jamara Hall, Owner of AHL Construction LLC

When Jamara Hall launched ALH Construction LLC with her husband in 2013, she was balancing 12-hour nursing shifts with late-night invoices, project management and customer calls. She had to rely on Google to learn everything about construction from the ground up. Eventually, the workload became impossible to sustain.  

Jamara never let go of the vision. Years later, she found the support she needed to rebuild her business through Elevate’s Clean Energy Contractor Mentorship Program.  

Through the program, she gained the tools, certifications, and industry connections she needed to rebuild ALH Construction LLC into a stronger, more strategic company ready for clean energy and city‑contract opportunities. 

“I’m still working full-time, but it’s so much easier now because I have the tools I actually need to help me succeed,” Jamara said. “From beginning to end, this program helped me make sure my business was truly structured in the right way.” 

The Clean Energy Contractor Mentorship Program is a strategic workforce development initiative designed to prepare emerging contractors and small businesses for success in the rapidly evolving fields of green construction and renewable energy.  

The 16-week mentorship program equips participants with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to thrive in a competitive and sustainability-driven marketplace. The program includes on-site project shadowing, one-on-one coaching, interactive workshops, and curated tools for business growth. 

“I valued the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals,” Jamara said. “The mentorship program felt very hands-on, it wasn’t like someone would tell you something and leave it at that. They actually took us on-site and brought in experts who’ve been in the field for years who gave us information we can use to develop our businesses.” 

As part of the program, Jamara partnered with an instructor who’s been a general contractor for more than 20 years who could provide personalized advice about her businesses. Connecting with other professionals throughout the program has helped her build a network she can share projects with and receive opportunities from, Jamara said. 

“We weren’t just learning concepts, we were applying them to our actual businesses,” Jamara said.  

Because of what Jamara learned through the program, she had her business certified, making it eligible to take on city-run construction projects in Chicago.  

“I didn’t even think about taking those steps and no one had ever told me to look into it,” Jamara said. “None of those opportunities came to mind because I was just thinking about flipping houses. I wasn’t thinking about expanding our offerings or trying to get city contracts until I got connected with Elevate.” 

In the future, Jamara hopes to grow her construction business into a full-service development and management company. 

“I’ve come out of this program with so much,” Jamara said. “Programs like this are crucial to small minority-owned businesses like mine. It’s given me direction, confidence, and access to connections to help me grow my business.” 

Elevate is accepting participants for future cohorts, and people can express interest through this online form.