Some cities around the country have found a way to connect unemployed and underemployed people with work by requiring a certain number of them be hired for public works projects and other developments made possible through public dollars.
Milwaukee has one of those programs, called the Residents Preference Program, or RPP.
Milwaukee's program has been around for more than two decades. But in recent years, criticism has been leveled that RPP has not had the level of success many had hoped for it.
A recent studyfrom the Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum looks at the strengths and shortcomings of Milwaukee’s program and where it might learn from other programs around the country.
Researchers Joe Peterangelo and Doug Day compared Milwaukee's program to programs that had been singled out for so-called best practices.
"While Milwaukee had in many respects a good program, the other programs tended to be larger. The other programs tended to be more active in terms of apprenticeships or looking for long term career opportunities for their residents, not just short-term jobs," says Day.
Their analysis also found that compared to other programs, Milwaukee's Residents Preference Program doesn't have as many shareholders involved in the program. This means less collaboration, and ultimately less opportunities for people seeking work.
The researchers believe this is the perfect time to analyze the effectiveness of Milwaukee's program, as developments continue to pop up downtown and in the city's larger metropolitan area.
"This is the time when a targeted hiring program can really have the most impact because there's so much opportunity for work," says Peterangelo.
