Trade Up: Jacksonville councilman explores apprenticeship requirements for city projects

A Jacksonville City Council member and skilled-trades representatives discussed ways to involve more local registered apprentices in construction projects during a meeting Monday.Click here for more Trade Up stories.Councilman Jimmy Peluso hosted the Oct. 19 meeting to discuss apprenticeships. Lance Fout, who represents SMART Local 435 sheet metal workers, said he wants apprenticeship language similar to what the Jacksonville Jaguars included in the team’s stadium project. Fout said, this would encourage local contractors to hire registered apprentices, union or non-union, for city-funded work.Fout also asked whether some incentive money could be provided earlier in a project, rather than reserving it for a completion grant, if a company commits to hiring a certain number of apprentices. Peluso said that proposal raises questions about private development projects, which may not be completed because of factors such as outside investors and banks.He also said the city recently approved