Contractors working on the $863 million Little Caesars Arena in Detroit have paid $5.2 million in fines to the city for failing to meet the local worker requirement.
Contractors fell short of the mandate requiring at least 51% of workers on the new hockey arena be Detroit residents. Of nearly 3 million hours worked on the project, Detroit residents worked just 25% of the total.
That is less than half of what is required for projects that receive brownfield tax abatements or for where developers are able to purchase city land for below-market prices. Local participation was lowest in skilled trade positions including steel work, electrical, plumbing, and carpentry.
The fines will fund construction training programs, but some contractors can avoid fines if they hire from plumbing and carpentry unions that set aside 25% of their first-year apprentice positions for Detroit residents.
Related Stories
| May 15, 2012
Suffolk selected for Rosenwald Elementary modernization project
The 314-student station elementary school will undergo extensive modernization.
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 6 Energy Codes + Reconstructed Buildings: 2012 and Beyond
Our experts analyze the next generation of energy and green building codes and how they impact reconstruction.
| May 10, 2012
Resilience should be considered a sustainability factor
Since a sustainable building is one you don't have to rebuild, some building sustainability experts believe adding points for "resilience" to storms and earthquakes to the LEED sustainability rating tool makes sense.
| May 10, 2012
University of Michigan research project pushes envelope on green design
A research project underway at the University of Michigan will test the potential of intelligent building envelopes that are capable of monitoring weather, daylight, and occupant use to manage heating, cooling, and lighting.
| May 10, 2012
Fire suppression agents go greener
Environmental sensitivity is helping to drive adoption of new fire suppression agents.
| May 10, 2012
Industry groups urge Congress to leave contracting decisions to agencies
An organization of several industry groups urged Congress to leave many contracting decisions to the discretion of individual agencies by avoiding blanket mandates.
| May 10, 2012
OSHA proposes new rule to have employers find and fix hazards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a new regulation, Injury and Illness Prevention Program, or I2P2, which would compel employers to find and fix safety hazards.
| May 3, 2012
Stay current on green codes at AGC Environmental Conference
Keep abreast of market trends such as 2012 changes to green standards and codes at the AGC Contractors Environmental Conference, June 7-8, 2012 in Arlington, Va.
