Barry Stands By Local Hire Effort, Taps Nonprofits To Help Train Workers

After delaying its launch, Mayor Megan Barry has announced new plans to implement the local-hire amendment passed by Nashville voters last fall. The amendment requires that Davidson County residents make up 40% of those hired for city construction projects.

Critics have said the county doesn’t have enough construction workers to meet that requirement. The mayor’s office is planning for a gradual rollout, over four years.

The amendment has also been threatened with legal action. In October, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery released a document arguing that it violates a state statute passed in 1994. But Metro Law Director Jon Cooper says that law regulated licensing for contractors. This one pertains only to hiring.

“I believe that these
 regulations, as proposed, are consistent with what the voters wanted and at the same time do not violate any state or federal law,” says Cooper.

State lawmakers may attempt to overrule the new hiring rules with legislation. But even if nullification attempts succeed, the mayor’s office is committed to expanding local hiring:
 Another new program will train Davidson County residents for these types of jobs.

Barry says unions and nonprofits will contribute to this “Construction Readiness Project.” It will also require funding from the Metro Council, but the timeline for fundraising and implementation remains unclear.