91视频

An effort to align government policy on construction sites is gaining steam, with Prosper Portland‘s board voting last week to endorse a framework plan for the Construction Career Pathways Project.

The project, spearheaded by Metro, is an effort to increase participation in the construction industry by women and people of color.

Metro is developing what it calls a 鈥渢ool kit,鈥� including template language for diversity goals.

William Myers, a Prosper Portland board member, said the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center project showed the need for better coordination. That project involves Metro, Prosper Portland, TriMet and various city bureaus.

鈥淲e had conflicting policies that needed alignment,鈥� he said at the Oct. 9 board meeting.

Myers noted the Construction Careers Pathway Project comes alongside other efforts to diversify the workforce.

鈥淲e’re starting to see the industry take over and course-correct a lot of these things,鈥� he said.

Myers pointed to the positive jobsite culture training being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute, as well as an effort being discussed that would provide child care to workers.

Raahi Reddy, Metro’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion, said the project is meant to provide a flexible framework.

鈥淭hat’s up to each agency what the workforce agreement looks like,鈥� she said.

Contractors will benefit from standardized language on workforce goals, said John C谩rdenas, Prosper Portland’s construction, business and workforce equity project manager.

鈥淭he best reaction I can ever hear from a contractor or subcontractor is, 鈥極h, I’ve seen that before,’鈥� C谩rdenas said. 鈥淭hat familiarity breeds comfort, and that comfort gets us closer to achieving our goals.鈥�