EARNCon Session: Prioritizing equity, job quality, and climate goals in state and local uses of federal infrastructure funds

Speakers

• Chandra Childers (Moderator), Economic Policy Institute
• Leland Bass, Columbus Urban League/Columbus Building Futures
• Ian Elder, Jobs to Move America
• Joe Snyder, Communications Workers of America
• JB Tengco, BlueGreen Alliance

Session Description

Federal funds now flowing to state and local governments for infrastructure projects provide historic opportunities to create good union jobs, strengthen labor standards, and increase equity in apprenticeship training and job access for women and workers of color. But these outcomes aren’t automatic, and important policy choices lie ahead.

This session will explore state and local opportunities to help ensure that federally funded projects benefit workers and their communities, deliver on equity, job quality, and climate goals, and build worker power. Successfully leveraging infrastructure funding available in coming years will require high levels of engagement and collaboration among on-the-ground partners as well as familiarity with federal agency funding mechanisms, processes for drawing down funds, and how federal funds flow through states, local governments, or other entities.