When a community invests in a bridge or rail project, they get more out if than just another piece of infrastructure; they get a better connection to the opportunity available outside that community.  But when the same community is allowed to hire locally --when residents get a shot at building the project-- that creates opportunity within the community, and that's a powerful dividend.

Recently, Secretary Foxx wrote to stakeholders, reminding them that every $1 billion invested in federal highway and transit projects would support 13,000 jobs. He also told them of several different options to ensure that some of those jobs stay in the community.

For example, DOT has established a pilot program for innovative contracting to create jobs locally, a practice that has been prohibited in the past.  We're also working closely with as many transportation industry employers to partner with State and local workforce boards, community colleges, unions, technical and vocational educators, and others to align skills training with job demand and to keep open the lines of communication when jobs open up.

Secretary Foxx also wrote about the U.S. Employment Plan, developed by the Jobs To Move America Coalition. This plan was designed to apply to the purchase of rolling stock, the trains that ride our freight, passenger, commuter, and transit rails.  It gives companies that manufacture rolling stock contractual incentives to create American jobs, locate facilities in the U.S. and provide training and recruitment efforts targeted toward unemployed American workers.

DOT has already approved use of the U.S. Employment Plan for light rail vehicles and buses used by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency, Amtrak, Chicago Transit Authority, Maryland DOT, and the California High Speed Rail Authority. We think the plan would be suitable in other communities, too.

The point is not to sell project sponsors on one particular avenue toward local hiring, but to let them know that there are, in fact, avenues available. We also invite communities who are developing their own local hire strategies to reach out to their DOT contact for technical assistance regarding federal requirements.

After all, as Secretary Foxx has said, "Our budget is only as good as how it's spent and, more importantly, the people whose lives it improves."