America's oldest minority and woman-owned professional design and construction firm is now calling Mount Vernon home.

McKissack and McKissack officially launched its regional office at 12 East Third St. Thursday afternoon.

The company provides construction management and consulting services for infrastructure projects mostly focused on transit, health care and education. It has contracted more than $50 billion in construction over the past decade.

The 150-employee company is eager to help hire locally as well as provide a boost to a part of Mount Vernon that is in desperate need of improvements.

The firm already has plans for Mount Vernon, including potential proposals to build more affordable housing and retail spaces.