File #: 2025-0122    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: In Committee
File created: 5/6/2025 In control: Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee
On agenda: Final action:
Enactment date: Enactment #:
Title: AN ORDINANCE related to the priority hire program and allowing for changes to the criteria of "economically distressed areas" that reflects a revised methodology which enhances regional uniformity and aligns with evolving economic and demographic shifts; and amending Ordinance 18672, Section 2, and K.C.C. 12.18A.010.
Sponsors: De'Sean Quinn
Attachments: 1. A. King County Priority Hiring Analysis December 2024, 2. 2025-0122 transmittal letter, 3. 2025-0122 Legislative Review Form
Drafter
Clerk 04/16/2025
Title
AN ORDINANCE related to the priority hire program and allowing for changes to the criteria of "economically distressed areas" that reflects a revised methodology which enhances regional uniformity and aligns with evolving economic and demographic shifts; and amending Ordinance 18672, Section 2, and K.C.C. 12.18A.010.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County established the priority hire program in 2018, designed to prioritize the recruitment and placement of economically disadvantaged local workers on designated King County public works projects. The program is intended to help address construction workforce shortages, diversify the construction workforce and improve the well-being of individuals who live in geographic areas of economic distress.
2. The priority hire program focuses on workforce participation by apprentices and journey level construction workers and is therefore directly connected to the county's existing apprenticeship program. King County is committed to achieving its apprenticeship hiring goals set in county policy and remedying the disproportionately low involvement by minority groups and women in the construction workforce.
3. The priority hire program was designed in alignment with actions in King County's 2016 equity and social justice strategic plan, co-created with employees and community partners. The program continues to deliver on King County's equity and racial and social justice values by expanding opportunities for disadvantaged populations and ensuring that county public works projects are planned and implemented in a way that improves equity in local communities.
4. Adoption of the proposed criteria for "economically distressed areas" will expand the overall catchment area of the priority hire program by including eleven more ZIP Codes as being economically distressed. This will enable the hiring of more local construction workers and put more labor dollars into economically distressed comm...

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