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To our fellow community leaders, <br />As elected officials, we are entrusted with making decisions that not only meet the needs of <br />today but also strengthen our communities for generations to come. One policy that has <br />consistently delivered long-term value in Duluth is our commitment to prevailing wage and <br />Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on publicly funded construction projects. <br />Our experience has shown that these policies are about far more than construction costs. They <br />are an investment in people, quality workmanship, and the long-term health of our local <br />economy. <br />Duluth has developed a collaborative and productive relationship with our local Building Trades. <br />By requiring prevailing wage and PLAs on projects that utilize public dollars, we help ensure that <br />taxpayer investments are matched with highly trained, skilled workers who take pride in <br />delivering quality projects that will serve our community for decades. <br />Prevailing wage helps local families thrive, not simply survive. When workers earn fair wages <br />and receive quality benefits, they are able to buy homes, support local businesses, raise <br />families, and invest in the communities where they live. Those dollars circulate through the local <br />economy, creating lasting economic benefits that extend well beyond the construction site. <br />These policies also create pathways to opportunity. Not every young person chooses a <br />four-year college, and the skilled trades provide an excellent alternative. Apprenticeships and <br />careers in the trades offer competitive wages, strong benefits, and opportunities for lifelong <br />careers without the burden of significant student debt. By supporting prevailing wage, <br />communities send a clear message that these careers are valued and that there is a future for <br />young people who choose to build with their hands. <br />There is also an important sense of pride that comes with building your own community. <br />Workers should be able to look at a school, park, bridge, or public building years later and <br />proudly tell their children or grandchildren, "I helped build that." That pride grows when workers <br />know they were treated fairly, compensated appropriately, and respected for their skills and <br />craftsmanship. <br />Public projects should leave more than buildings behind —they should leave stronger <br />communities. In Duluth, we have found that prevailing wage and Project Labor Agreements help <br />us achieve that goal by supporting local workers, strengthening our economy, encouraging <br />workforce development, and delivering high -quality public infrastructure. <br />We encourage your community to view prevailing wage not simply as a construction policy, but <br />as a long-term investment in your workforce, your families, and your local economy. Our <br />experience has demonstrated that when communities invest in skilled workers, everyone <br />benefits. <br />Lynn Marie Nephew - Duluth City Council President <br />