Linking Infrastructure and Capital Investments with Jobs and Training Working Poor Families Project 2009 State Policy Academy June 10-11, Chicago

Session #1 Mapping possibilities in Infrastructure Capital Investments, and other projects

Multiple possibilities Multiple sectors – Construction – Transportation – Public works – Sector-specific economic development Multiple occupations – Construction – Administrative support – Permanent jobs created

Multiple possibilities Multiple sources – Federally funded – State support through general funds and/or bonds Capital, operating, and/or transportation budgets Other legislation, related to economic/community development – State regulatory authority over private sector Multiple state actions – Administration (housing authority) – Contracting processes (grants and loans) local government Private-sector – Regulation

Construction Public buildings – Capital projects for schools, hospitals, jails, etc. Private buildings – Grants, loans, land giveaways for private-sector Public housing – Management or financing of public housing projects Weatherization & energy-efficient retrofits – Federal funded, state administered Public utilities – Regulation

Transportation Road and bridge construction – State grants and loans to local governments (capital bonds) – Federal funded Ports and airports – Management, funding, and/or regulation

Other Public works – Dams; solid waste disposal facilities; and water supply, wastewater, storm water collection systems – Grants and loans to local governments Sector-specific economic development – State funding to support business development and job creation in a targeted industry sector (not deals for individual firms)

Roundtable Discussion Advocacy Strategies and Lessons from the Field – Ruthie Liberman Job training funding set asides/proposals through green jobs, life sciences, and film industry legislation in Massachusetts – Tony Lee Job training and targeted hiring policies in Evergreen Jobs Act in Washington – Carrie Thomas Construction job equity goals and weatherization training through Capital Budget bill in Illinois

Relevant federal policies Job quality – Davis-Bacon prevailing wage – Obama executive order permitting project-labor agreements on federal construction projects Job access – HUD Section 3 – Equal employment policy for women and minorities for federal contracts (Affirmative Action plan) – Sense of the Senate vs. U.S. DOT local hiring rule Job training – ½% on-the-job training and supportive services for U.S. DOT

Job Access (continued) Hiring for DOT-funded transportation projects – Sense of Senate Promote hiring of low-income, local individuals on federally-funded transportation construction projects Encourage partnerships between state/local government, community colleges, high schools, apprenticeship programs, and CBOs to (1) leverage training resources and (2) help to ensure local participation in projects. Cites Alameda Corridor’s 30% local hiring policy – FHWA regulation Prohibits local hiring preferences Discriminate against nonlocal contractors NELP suggests that regulations allow for income-based preferences

Job Training DOT on-the-job training and supportive services – Up to ½% of DOT funds can go to highway construction training – Ensure equal employment opportunity – State can choose to spend on training or not State examples – Minnesota – Michigan

Job access HUD Section 3 – HUD-funded construction or rehabilitation projects. Public or Indian Housing CDBG, HOME, Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, etc $200,000 or more – Requires “greatest extent possible” that 30% of new jobs go to low-income individuals (and receive job training) Race and gender neutral 10% of construction work to low-income subcontractors – Housing authorities/agencies responsible for reporting contractor compliance to HUD State policy example – Missouri