What's New

On August 4, 2010, BRIDGE kicked off its jobs campaign at the site of the proposed light rail line in West Baltimore.  Congressman Elijah Cummings was the featured speaker at that rally.  In the months since that kickoff, Bridge leaders have been busy working on a platform that would utilize Federal Transportation dollars to provide job training for local unemployed in the construction industry. Recently, House Bill 1139 and Senate Bill 796 were introduced in Annapolis.  The hearing for SB 796 took place on February 17th, but the hearing for HB1139 is scheduled for March 1. Click here for video from the Red Line Kickoff Rally.

                                       
OUR Vision

As diverse communities of faith we recognize that our destinies are intertwined. We reject the divisions in our city, our region, and our nation and we affirm the promise of community that bridges these divisions.

As we build relationships across neighborhood, city, racial and economic lines, we discover that our struggles are connected. We want all to live in safe, healthy and thriving communities. We want all to have honest, dignified work earning a wage that can support our families. We want all to afford a place we are proud to call home.

BRIDGE to Opportunity Jobs PLATFORM

The BRIDGE to Opportunity Campaign ensures that the promise of prosperity reaches all members of the community. We believe that together, we can overcome obstacles that stand between a better life for ourselves and for our neighbor. We stand as a growing community in support of:

• Equity. Ensure that targeted groups, in particular, low-income people, complete at least 30% of workforce hours, with specific goals for including women and minorities. Ensure that there is a level playing field for small businesses, especially minority and women owned enterprises, to participate in their fair share of the project.
  
  
• Workforce Development.  The Maryland Department of Transportation should take full advantage of existing law, which allows investment up to ½ of 1% of their federal transportation funds in workforce development and training programs.
  
  
• Accountability. Require contractors engaged in Red Line construction to report quarterly on workforce goals to community stakeholders.
  
  
• Inclusive Development. Development along any transportation corridor should comply with the inclusionary zoning ordinance developed by BRIDGE, to ensure mixed income community development.
  
  
• Mobility: The Redline is an important step in the providing an affordable, reliable, safe and effective public transportation system. We encourage increased investment and connectivity in public transportation.
  
  
• City, County, State, and Federal policies should increase access to opportunity by advancing these goals. We believe that the Baltimore region and the State of Maryland can lead the way towards Building One America where everybody's in and nobody's out!

OUR BACKGROUND

BRIDGE to Opportunity is an initiative of the Baltimore Regional Initiative Developing Genuine Equality.  BRIDGE, works with over 50 faith communities and institutions, whose membership includes thousands of residents in the Baltimore region. A partner with the Transportation Equity Network,  BRIDGE addresses issues that impact their communities and seeks answers through conversation and action.  BRIDGE to opportunity builds on recent efforts to promote equity in the Baltimore region, including the passage of inclusionary zoning ordinances in Baltimore City.

BRIDGE to Opportunity is building on the success of similar efforts across the county

• Minnesota – Thanks to the work of a faith-based organization of 100 congregations, the state department of transportation committed to use ½ of 1% of federal highway funds to invest in developing a diverse, inclusive workforce
  
  
• St. Louis, Missouri – Metropolitan Congregations United led all the stakeholders to an agreement on a major highway construction project to ensure that 30% of workforce hours were completed by women, communities of color, and low-income people, and $2.5 million dollars were invested in the training of these new construction workers
  
  
• Kansas City – MORE2, the faith based organization in the region, passed a city-wide ordinance to transform their construction industry so that it would reflect the population – this meant meeting ambitious targeted hiring goals for women and people of color, with accountability mechanisms in place to ensure rigorous compliance
  

Expanding Opportunity by Dedicating 0.5% to Workforce Development

The Challenge

• Disadvantaged and underemployed workers often struggle to access viable career pathways in industries like construction.
• African-Americans and women are underrepresented in construction.  In Baltimore, for example, African-Americans make up 32% of the workforce, but only 18% of the construction workforce – one of the nation’s biggest gaps.
• There is little state investment in training or state policy focused on closing these gaps and linking local workers to state-funded infrastructure jobs.

The Opportunity: Use Federal Dollars to Support Training

• By implementing a well-crafted training and employment strategy for infrastructure projects, Maryland can create and expand viable career pathways for underemployed local workers.
• States may use up to ½ of one percent of federal surface transportation and bridge funds to “develop, conduct, and administer highway construction training, including skill improvement programs.”  The goal is to improve access to transportation jobs for under-represented and disadvantaged populations.
• Dedicating this 0.5% to training could provide local, minority, disadvantaged, and women workers access to infrastructure jobs and apprenticeships.
• Maryland could utilize this plan in conjunction with existing pre-apprenticeship training programs, or the State could partner with stakeholders to develop a transit-specific training program.

Models for Success: 0.5% Usage in Other States

• A number of states have taken advantage of the 0.5% provision, including Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan and Minnesota.
• Minnesota has a statute requiring the state DOT to use the allowable training funds.  A range of services are funded, including subsidized on-the-job training, outreach, certification, and technical assistance to DBEs.
• Michigan uses 0.5% of their federal transportation dollars to fully fund their Road Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Program, an intensive pre-apprenticeship program which targets women, minorities, and economically disadvantaged workers.
• Missouri and Wisconsin have used the 0.5% to support training linked to major transportation projects.

Fiscal Impact

• In FY2009, Maryland received $236M in federal surface transportation and bridge funds. 
• Dedicating ½ of 1 percent of these dollars to workforce development would allow for over $1M in training.
• Taking advantage of the federal 0.5% would cost Maryland nothing.  The policy would simply designate a portion of federal funds to train individuals for transit-oriented projects, and would bolster the economy by linking underemployed workers to career pathways.

Click here for copy of Senate Bill 796