Commissioner Jean Monestime's Legislation to Strengthen the County's Community Workforce Program is Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners

(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- On Tuesday, July 2, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners adopted an ordinance proposed by Commissioner Jean Monestime, District 2, which requires County contractors to hire workers from the surrounding community where a public improvement project is located before hiring from other areas in the County.  Contractors must also submit their plan to hire local workers before signing a contract with the County.

The changes are expected to significantly strengthen the Community Workforce Program, which was originally created to increase job opportunities for residents living in economically challenged communities known as Designated Target Areas (DTA).

According to Commissioner Monestime’s legislation, contractors which receive County construction work must first hire from the DTA where the project is located before hiring from other DTAs.  Also, the County will not enter into a capital construction contract until it receives and approves the contractor’s workforce plan detailing the employees it intends to hire from the DTA.  Previously, contractors could submit their workforce plans well after the project had begun.

“I am grateful that my colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners agreed to strengthen the Community Workforce Program by adding these safeguards for our local workers,” Commissioner Monestime said. “This will ensure that good-paying construction jobs are provided to the local community.”

Read the legislation here.