Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Ralph Schulz’s name.
Nashville business leaders have ramped up their resistance to a measure that would require construction companies to hire more local workers for city-funded projects. They’re urging voters to reject the amendment on August’s ballot, saying it will hurt local business and taxpayers.
The amendment would require 40 percent of worker-hours on city construction projects to go to Davidson County residents.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz says while the amendment sounds good, it won’t work. He says out-of-state companies wouldn’t have to comply.
“It’s going to create an unfair competition advantage for out of state companies and that’s going to put mid-state companies and Davidson county companies at a disadvantage,” Schulz says. “This is a job killer, not a job grower.”
Schulz says Nashville doesn’t
have an adequate construction workforce to meet the quota because of low unemployment and a regional economy that hires from surrounding counties.
The amendment is being pushed by activist groups who say city projects should create more local jobs.
Business leaders who oppose the measure say they will fight it by word of mouth, rather than on through TV advertising.
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