Building More Robust and Diverse Construction Trades in the Denver Metro Area

The project takes the re-development of Colorado's Central 70 highway as a focus point to explore the impact of its local hire agreement and mitigation strategies geared at providing training and opportunities to affected communities. Can local hire provide good jobs that can translate into careers for marginalized Denver residents, or does it fail to recognize the environmental racism that has led these high-minority communities to suffer higher rates of poverty and some of the highest rates of pollution in the country? The project consists of qualitative interviews with stakeholders on the project and a survey of construction workers.