PVP is working with the building trades to ensure that public projects hire local people and expand opportunities in the city. Two ordinances passed last July require that city construction projects must hire at least 35% local residents, 20% people of color, and 5% women. They also ensure that at least 5% of these jobs will provide opportunities for apprentices to learn their trades, and that all jobs will provide health benefits and pensions.

PVP joined the building trades for a rally on February 12 by 300+ people at City Hall to call on Mayor Dominic Sarno to apply the city's Responsible Employer Ordinance to construction of the new Putnam Vocational School. This $125 million project is the largest public project in the city. Because the Putnam project was initiated before the new local hiring ordinances were passed, the mayor was reluctant to add these new requirements to the bid documents. However, the mayor agreed on February 12 to amend the bid documents and include the hiring mandates and the Responsible Employer Ordinance in the Putnam project. This will keep an estimated 230 jobs in the city and ensure that at least 132 go to people of color and 33 to women.