The Atlanta Falcons, state and city officials have agreed on a deal to ensure that at least 31 percent of construction awards for the team's new stadium are awarded to minority or women-owned firms.

Including minority and women-owned firms in the design and construction of the $1 billion, retractable roof stadium was a stipulation of council members' decision to use bonds backed by $200 million in hotel/motel taxes to fund construction.

Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr. tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he's encouraged by the franchise's commitment to diversity, saying the inclusion is a meaningful engagement of minority and female business owners.

As part of the deal, the dollar value of the contracts — not the number of contractors working — will count toward the 31 percent goal.

Tags: football, georgia sports, Falcons, Falcons Stadium