Ensuring that local workers have employment opportunities on projects situated within their communities has long been a core element of economic development programs at the municipal level. To this end, the Board adopted a Local and Targeted Worker Hire Policy that took effect for contracts approved by the Board after October 31, 2016. This policy imposes a 30% Local Hire goal and a 10% Targeted Worker hire goal on most major construction projects approved by the Board. Prior to the adoption of the current Local and Targeted Worker Hire Policy, the County put forth local hire goals on a project by project basis. The Department of Public Works was responsible for managing these local hire practices, and for tracking compliance with specific project objectives.
Historical data for these projects demonstrates that local worker hire was successful on 5 of the 6 projects where the County imposed a mandatory hiring goal, and on 10 of the 16 projects where an aspirational goal was imposed. Going forward, compliance with both the local and targeted worker categories will be tracked county wide for inclusion into this Scorecard.
WHAT IS A “TARGETED WORKER?”
A Targeted Worker is defined as a resident of the County who has indices of career-limiting circumstances, specifically one or more of the following:
- has a documented annual income at or below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty level
- no high school diploma or GED
- a history of involvement with the criminal justice system
- protracted unemployment
- is a current recipient of government cash or food assistance benefits
- is homeless or has been homeless within the last year
- is a custodial single parent
- is a former foster youth; or
- is a veteran, or is the eligible spouse of a veteran of the United States armed forces
WHAT IS A “LOCAL WORKER?”
A Local Resident is defined as an individual living within the Tier 1 or Tier 2 ZIP Codes of the County.
Before employing worker(s) from Tier 2 Zip Codes, the available pool of local residents whose primary place of residence is within Tier 1 ZIP Codes must first be exhausted.
TIER 1: means ZIP Codes within five (5) miles of the proposed project site, and where the average percentage of households living below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is greater than the County average for such households.
TIER 2: means any ZIP Codes within the County where the average percentage of households living below 200 percent of the FPL is greater than the County average for such households.
This definition shall also apply to affordable housing projects and for privately financed developments located on County property.
Aspirational Hiring Goal
Completed Projects (31)
Mandatory Hiring Goal
Completed Projects (7)
Worker Ethnicity
Worker Residency
