Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) sent the following letter to Mr. Jeff Lenox of Blackhawk Ventures regarding the contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Blackhawk Ventures to construct an Army Reserve Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hastings urged Mr. Lenox to work with local partners to ensure local hiring for this important project for the Palm Beach County community.
May 16, 2012
Mr. Jeff Lenox
Program Manager
Blackhawk Ventures
PO Box 831284
San Antonio, TX 78283
Dear Mr. Lenox,
I write in regards to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract you were awarded to construct an Army Reserve Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. This is an important project for Palm Beach County, and I want to strongly encourage you to ensure that any hiring is done locally.
This area of Florida has been extremely hard hit by the recession, plagued by high unemployment rates and a struggling economic recovery. At the same time, there is a long and unfortunate history of companies contracting outside laborers to perform work, ignoring the qualified workers of Palm Beach County and the surrounding area when it comes to job creation and retention. In my discussions with the Army Corps of Engineers about this project, I have repeatedly stressed that it is essential for the local community to reap tangible benefits from this Center. Those benefits include the creation of jobs, so that the gains from this project can bolster the local economy and remain within the community in which the Center is to be located.
Again, I strongly encourage you to ensure local hiring for this project, and would greatly appreciate being kept informed of my request. If you should have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 202-225-1313.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress