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Dear fellow community leaders, <br />As elected officials, we are entrusted with making decisions that meet the <br />immediate needs of our community while laying a strong foundation for <br />future generations. In Duluth, one policy that consistently delivers long-term <br />value on publicly funded construction projects is our commitment to <br />prevailing wage standards and Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). <br />These policies extend beyond line -item construction costs. They represent an <br />intentional investment in people, local craftsmanship, and the overall health <br />of our regional economy. <br />By prioritizing prevailing wage and PLAs on public projects, Duluth has built <br />a collaborative partnership with our local Building Trades. This approach <br />ensures that taxpayer investments directly support highly trained, skilled <br />workers who take immense pride in delivering quality infrastructure designed <br />to serve our city for decades. <br />Fair wages and quality benefits allow local workers to thrive, buy homes, <br />support small businesses, and raise their families right here in the <br />communities where they work. Those dollars stay local, creating sustained <br />economic benefits that reach well beyond the job site. <br />These policies also support workforce development. Not every young person <br />follows a traditional four-year college path, and skilled trades provide <br />competitive wages, solid benefits, and rewarding careers without significant <br />student debt. Prioritizing prevailing wage sends a clear message to the next <br />generation: these career paths are valued, respected, and essential to our <br />community's future. <br />There is also a deep sense of pride that comes with building your own <br />community. Workers should be able to pass a local school, park, or bridge <br />and proudly tell their families, "I helped build that." That pride is earned <br />when workers are compensated fairly and respected for their craftsmanship. <br />Public infrastructure should leave behind more than just physical buildings: it <br />should leave behind stronger, more resilient communities. In Duluth, <br />prevailing wage standards and PLAs help us strengthen the local economy, <br />build a skilled workforce, and deliver high -quality public projects. <br />