City Council strengthens First Source Hiring practices for public funded development projects jobs

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The Atlanta CityCouncil approved legislation Monday that aims to increase the city’s commitmentto First Source Hiring practices and workforce development in the constructionindustry, strengthens local hiring requirements for development projects thatreceive public funding support from the city.

In collaboration withAtlanta’s business community, the city will work to ensure that 50 percent ofall entry level jobs under an employer’s control be filled with residentslisted in the city’s First Source Register.  Additionally, 10 percent ofall construction work hours will be performed by apprentices.

City Council President
Ceasar Mitchell

“The city’s futureeconomic growth depends on our willingness to continue building bonds among community,business, and government stakeholders,” said Atlanta City Council PresidentCeasar C. Mitchell.
The multiprongedordinance establishes job training programs, including pre-apprenticeship andapprenticeship programs, entrepreneurial skills programs, and professionaldevelopment for skilled workers.  Additionally, the city will implementrecruitment efforts for both entry level and skilled construction workers inthe city of Atlanta. 
The legislation callsfor the creation of a new program, Atlanta CityBuild.  The program willassist contractors that have been awarded projects in the city with fulfillingtheir local hiring obligations.  The program will provide a screened andqualified workforce comprised of skilled city residents from a first sourcelist for all phases of work within each project’s scope.
Atlanta CityBuild willmeet with the city’s Chief Procurement Officer, necessary city agencies,contractors and subcontractors to ensure that all First Source Hiringregulations are met.  The agency will provide an annual report to theMayor and City Council outlining the number of jobs created, the skill setsdemanded by employers, and any other metric the Mayor and City Council requestthat highlights the city’s efforts to increase First Source Hiring.
The program is modeledoff of a similar program in San Francisco. Since the California city’s programlaunched in 2006, CityBuild has played a vital role in providing training andemployment opportunities in the construction trades to economicallydisadvantaged San Francisco residents. In helping a myriad of constructioncompanies fulfill their labor needs and obligations, over 1,300 job placementshave been achieved in over 250 projects throughout the City.

City Council member
Joyce Sheperd

“I commend DeborahScott, executive director of Georgia Stand Up, for remaining steadfast in heradvocacy of this important legislation.  I also commend Councilmember (JoyceM.) Sheperd, chair of the Council’s Community Development/Human ResourcesCommittee, for her leadership in working with the mayor on getting thelegislation before Council,” Mitchell said.
“This initiativecapitalizes on community-based workforce training to provide disadvantagedpopulations with employment access through job preparation andapprenticeship-based skills for construction and related crafts,” said Scott.“Creating this mandated workforce pipeline will bolster Atlanta’s skillprofile, give the city a strategic competitive advantage, and strengthen itscapacity to attract future investment,” she added.
 While Atlantapreviously enacted a First Source Jobs Policy to create entry level employmentopportunities for low income residents and those without a degree from acollege or university, the new legislation meets the Atlanta City Council’sdesire to provide greater job training and career opportunities.
Supporters say that astrong local hiring ordinance is an effective way to reduce the persistentconcentration of unemployment and poverty in the city.  According to themost recent statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor, metropolitanAtlanta has one of Georgia’s highest unemployment rates at 8.4 percent.
For more informationabout the new program, Atlanta CityBuild, contact Councilmember Sheperd’soffice at 404-330-6053 or jmsheperd@atlantaga.gov