Community benefits agreements and policies improve the quality of the jobs created by economic development while ensuring those new jobs are accessible to local residents. Thanks to CBAs, thousands of new permanent jobs in major development projects pay workers a living wage. Local hire and first source referral programs created by CBAs are giving local residents first crack at newly created jobs and giving employers access to a qualified pool of applicants. Community benefits also open doors to the middle class for thousands of low-income people through construction apprenticeships and training programs.

Job-related components of community benefits programs might include:

Job Quality:

• A first source referral system and requirement that new employers try to hire from the system
• Job opportunities for local residents
• Job opportunities for hard-to-employ workers
• Expanded construction apprenticeship opportunities
• A fund for job training

Job Access and Training:

• Prevailing wages on construction jobs
• Living wages and benefits on permanent jobs
• Safer workplaces where workers have a voice
• Responsible contractor standards

Below are some examples of community benefits agreements and policies with outstanding job quality and access features:

Construction Careers Policy (Los Angeles, CA)

Yale-New Haven Hospital CBA (New Haven, CT)

Park East Redevelopment Compact (Milwaukee, WI)

Oak to 9th CBA (Oakland, CA)

Bayview-Hunters Point CBA (San Francisco, CA)