Norton Monitoring of D.C. Workers Hired at Federal Construction Sites Continues to Yield Positive Hiring Results for D.C. Residents

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the newest set of available data (June 2016) on the number of District of Columbia residents hired to work at federal construction sites in the District and D.C. small businesses with subcontracts at the sites. One site saw an increase in percentage of D.C. workers employed and the other sites are holding steady. Small business representation remained unchanged.

Norton keeps track of D.C. hires and small business contracts because anyone, regardless of residency, can work on any federally financed project, and federal law prohibits specific quotas for the hiring of local residents. Fortunately, existing federal regulations allow the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to conduct aggressive employment outreach for local residents to work on projects being constructed in their communities, including in the District. D.C. residents comprise roughly 10% of the region’s population, offering a reasonable minimum baseline.

At the Lafayette Building modernization, Grunley Construction reported that 19.2% of employees were D.C. workers, compared to 20.2% last month due to one D.C. resident leaving the site. This project has held steady at a reasonably high level of D.C. residents employed, having never fallen below 18% since Norton began collecting data at the site. There were no small businesses contracted at the Lafayette Building project because work will be winding down in the fall.

At the Old Post Office Building, Trump Construction reported 10.9% of total worker hours were completed by D.C. workers, compared to 11% the month before. Trump Construction has consistently reported at least 10% of contracts going to D.C. small businesses. The hotel is projected to be near completion for a September opening.

At the Harry S. Truman Building Modernization, Clark Construction reported that 8.4% of employees were D.C. workers. There was no change from the month before. The employees are currently working in an occupied wing of the building, which limits the number of construction workers on site. However, later this summer, two wings will be entirely vacant and available for construction work, and Norton said that she will be looking to see an increase in D.C. workers hired.

At the U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters construction project at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8, Grunley reported 7.7% were D.C. workers, and General Dynamics reported 3.7% were D.C. workers. Grunley Construction added 5 people to its workforce, but none were D.C. residents. In May, Grunley reported that 7.8% of workers were D.C. residents. The current period of interior demolition requires a smaller workforce because it involves careful, historic preservation work, which requires increased safety measures. General Dynamics saw an increase in percentage of D.C. workers because three non-D.C. residents no longer work for General Dynamics on the project.

With no new subcontractors hired in June at St. Elizabeths, D.C. small business representation remained the same for Grunley and General Dynamics. There are currently a total of three D.C. small businesses out of 16 subcontractors for Grunley Construction on site. General Dynamics is not currently engaged in subcontract work for small businesses. However, the list of 20 small businesses on which General Dynamics relies includes two D.C. small businesses. Norton says she understands the highly-skilled nature of General Dynamics’ IT work, which also requires substantial security clearances, but she nonetheless wants to see an increase in the number of D.C. employees and small businesses brought on by General Dynamics.

Norton said she expects increased opportunities for small businesses at St. Elizabeths when the interior work in the Center Building is finalized. In the next year, work also will begin on the new access road to support federal employee traffic, which was funded in fiscal year 2015. Norton was able to secure $556.7 million for DHS consolidation in the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill, which will mean more work for D.C. residents and D.C. small businesses.

GSA continues to staff an Opportunities Center at St. Elizabeths (2701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, St. Elizabeths West Campus), which is open weekdays, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. GSA staff provides assistance on all federal projects to prospective employees and contractors and helps small businesses with hiring and contracting processes at St. Elizabeths and other GSA sites. The Opportunities Center also offers resume writing workshops, job postings, 8(a) small business training, and community outreach.

Ward 8 Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Project on the St. Elizabeths Campus

* No percentage of employees reported

Old Post Office Building

Other Large D.C. Federal Projects