Economic Development and Job Creation

Local 32BJ membership is comprised of service employees, including mainte­nance, janitorial and construction workers, security guards, and doormen. The union wants to ensure that economic develop­ment funding is spent creating meaningful jobs for its members. New York State has an expansive set of economic development programs to promote commercial activity, job creation, and economic opportunity. However, economic development programs are often criticized for failing to create jobs or adhere to reporting requirements to inform the public about job creation outcomes. The Capstone team evaluated four New York State economic development programs that affect members of SEIU Local 32BJ: the Excelsior Jobs Program, Power for Jobs, the Metropolitan Economic Revitalization Fund, and Industrial Development Agencies. The Capstone team's final report includes recommendations for creating job standards to improve these programs.