Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, lgardner@spokanecity.org
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 9:51 a.m.
During Monday’s Legislative Session, Spokane City Council voted to support ordinance 36723 titled “Public Dollars for Public Benefit,” which creates a community workforce agreement and prioritizes hiring to promote training and career opportunities for individuals in the construction trades. It also establishes priorities for hiring residents in economically distressed areas and directs the city’s Finance Department to execute a project labor agreement for public works projects estimated to cost $5 million or more.
“This ordinance is a major move toward not just developing our infrastructure but also strengthening our workforce,” said Council Member Paul Dillon, co-sponsor of this ordinance. “By focusing on local residents and investing in training, we’re preparing our community for long-term success.”
Through this ordinance, the city council encourages the Spokane Park Board, the Spokane Library Board, and the Spokane Public School Board to adopt the community workforce agreement and priority hire program. Community Workforce Agreements and Project Labor Agreements are known to prevent waste, maximize public benefits, and ensure equity while delivering measurable advantages to workers, communities, and taxpayers.
“The labor movement has been at the forefront of fighting for better wages and working conditions for workers. I’m proud to co-sponsor this ordinance encouraging priority hiring practices for contractors to provide quality pay and benefits and making sure our public dollars benefit our local economy first and foremost,” said Council Member Zack Zappone, co-sponsor of the ordinance. “Dollars from these public works projects will provide Spokanites with living wages that reinvest in our local economy.”
