MILWAUKEE COUNTY

Milwaukee streetcar project on track for hiring and contracting goals

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Milwaukee streetcar project — formally launched three months ago — is set to meet goals for hiring city residents and contracting with minority construction firms.

Workers hired through the city's Resident Preference Program have worked 43% of the hours on the project so far, exceeding the 40% goal, officials said at a streetcar committee meeting at City Hall Friday.

Milwaukee officials say the downtown streetcar project is on track for its hiring goals.

The announcement comes as the project has recently been targeted as part of an effort to recall Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

"It's good news, and it's just the beginning," Barrett said in an interview. "Our goal all along here was to have our residents help build the future of this city."

Barrett said he hoped the streetcar work and job training related to it would help boost city residents' future job prospects.

"I think for some of them, it's creating that positive momentum of being in the workforce," Barrett said. "Things are really hot right now in southeastern Wisconsin, and so we think once you get that positive momentum, it's going to open the doors for you for other projects."

Likewise, a quarter of the project's construction projects are with minority- and female-owned firms certified in the county as disadvantaged business enterprises. That target is set for 21% of all contracts for streetcar construction.

A recruitment event held for the project in January drew 75 people, 13 of whom completed a four-week class on construction, said Peter Koffaro of Employ Milwaukee. While only one of those people has worked on the project, more are expected to join in the coming weeks.

Another recruitment session for city residents will be next Thursday.