NEW: Renewed Effort to Hire Providence Residents First
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
After being blasted by a community action group for not living up to the promise of its First Source program designed to give preference to hiring Providence residents, the Mayor and City Council today announced a commission has been formed to look into the problem, and get the program on its feet. (Click HERE for link to original story.)
Earlier this month, the City Council passed, and the Mayor signed, a resolution establishing a Commission to Study and Evaluate the Implementation and Enforcement of the First Source ordinance. The Study Commission will make recommendations for improving job opportunities for Providence residents.
The commission was created by the Council in response to complaints that First Source—a program that requires businesses receiving grants, incentives, or subsidies from the City to give hiring preference to Providence residents—is not functioning properly.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThis action by the city’s elected officials to provide Providence residents with greater access to high-quality, good-paying jobs comes at a time when the capital city faces a staggering unemployment crisis.
As stated in the resolution, the Commission will be comprised of seven members—four appointed by Council President Michael Solomon and three appointed by Mayor Angel Taveras, with representatives from labor organizations, businesses, and the community at-large.
The Mayor’s appointments are: Scott Duhamel, IUPAT Painters Local 195, District Council 11; Eileen Hayes, Amos House; and John Prince, DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality). The Council President’s appointees include: Jenna Karlin, UNITE HERE Local 217; Sharon Conard-Wells, West Elmwood Housing Development Corp.; Greg Mancini, BuildRI; and Tom Savoie, N.E. Regional Council of Carpenters.
“We have brought together an impressive group of volunteers who are interested in getting the First Source program to function as it should,” stated President Solomon. “The Council and the Mayor are committed to the goal and the intent of the First Source ordinance—increasing employment opportunities for Providence residents, and making sure that companies benefiting from taxpayer dollars are reinvesting those dollars in the community in a tangible way, through jobs. A balanced review of the program will help us understand the changes that are needed to make First Source work. We are looking forward to hearing the Commission’s recommendations.””
“Creating jobs is one of my top priorities. Improving First Source will help do just that,” said Mayor Angel Taveras. “My office will continue to work closely with the City Council to fix the First Source program so that it does what it’s meant to do—make sure that organizations and businesses that receive taxpayer dollars give preference to unemployed Providence residents when making new hires.”
The Commission is expected to hold its first meeting in early April, and will submit written recommendations to the Council within 90 days. The Department of Planning and Development will provide assistance and information to the Commission.
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