Local Hiring

One optimal strategy to ensure that community residents that have borne the brunt of social, economic and health impacts is to ensure that employers participate in a First Source Hiring (FSH) program, also known as a Jobs Center. A FSH program means that an employer first looks to the local community to find employees. Many communities in Los Angeles have seen positive outcomes through local hiring programs resulting from major development projects, including Hollywood and Highland, North Hollywood Commons, LA Live, and LAX. In the public sector, many local hiring programs require developers and contractors benefitting from public funds to target a percentage of the jobs created through construction or development of new businesses toward local residents.

We recommend a two fold strategy: 1) the designation of a local non-profit to serve as the Jobs Center, and 2) a local hiring with policy for development projects that exceed a certain threshold in public funds. Goodwill is a strong candidate given its presence in both Atwater Village and Lincoln Heights.