Tacoma Housing Authority has convened a Construction Oversight Committee to monitor and advise THA’s efforts to meet its hiring and contracting goals for the Salishan project. The first goal was to direct at least 50% of the new construction related jobs to residents of Salishan, former residents, residents of THA’s other public housing communities, and other low-income residents of the Tacoma. (Section 3). The second goal was to make the contracting work accessible to firms owned by persons or color or and women (MWBE). The Committee’s Charter and By-laws states its purpose: “First, it will monitor compliance efforts with Section 3 and MWBE requirements and goals on the Salishan project. Second, it will advise THA . . . how to best fulfill them. Third, by its representative composition, the Committee will help interested community members understand the requirements and goals, and THA’s . . . commitment to them. Its oversight role will increase the community’s confidence in the effort and make success more likely.”

Present Members of the Oversight Committee are:

Charles Aycock, Small Business Incubator

Lisa Melendez, Tribal Employment Rights Office - T.E.R.O.

Tina Hansen, THA

Kristi Grassman, Tacoma-Pierce County Employment and Training Consortium

Kate Smith, Centro Latino

Peter Guzman, LEAP City of Tacoma

Grover Johnson, NW Regional Organizing Coalition; Chairperson

Mark Griffin, Walsh Construction Co.