What is Hire NOLA?
In October 2015, the New Orleans City Council unanimously passed the Hire NOLA Ordinance, successfully creating the City's first local worker participation program. Hire NOLA is a standardized mechanism to link employment opportunities created by City construction contracts and economic development projects to a qualified local workforce. Beginning in 2016, the new policy requires Prime contractors and their Subcontractors to demonstrate good faith efforts to cause the following:
- At least forty percent (50%) of all work hours completed Louisiana workers to be performed by Local Workers;
- At least twenty percent (30%) of all work hours completed by Local Workers to be performed by Disadvantaged Local Workers and;
- At least twenty percent (30%) of all designated apprentice work hours performed by Louisiana apprentices to be completed by Disadvantaged Local Workers.
Prime contractors and their Subcontractors are also required to use the Office of Workforce Development as its First Source for recruitment, referral and placement of all new hires for employment opportunities created by the applicable contract.
What Are "Covered Projects"?
Any contract to which the City is a party for construction, alteration or demolition of public buildings or public works of the City of New Orleans in excess of $150,000; and any Cooperative Endeavor Agreement to which the City is a party and through which the City provides tax incentives for economic development projects in excess of $150,000.
Hire NOLA Rules and Regulations
First Source
First Source connects the local workforce to various employment opportunities throughout the City of New Orleans. Local jobseekers can now easily submit their resumes into the City’s database. Applicants will be contacted in an appropriate amount of time about job openings on various local projects.
First Source also allows prime contractors and their subcontractors to efficiently utilize the City of New Orleans as its first source for recruitment, referral, and placement of all new hires for employment opportunities.
Click either of the links below for more details about this service for contractors and job seekers.
* First Source is a contract requirement for city contractors. Prime contractors and their subcontractors must notify the City of New Orleans of its specific need for new employees and wait at least five (5) business days before advertising the employment opportunity to the general public.
Disadvantaged Targeted Worker Certification
“Disadvantaged Local Worker” means a local worker who (i) at the time of commencing work on a covered project has a household income of equal to or less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for household size, of the New Orleans Parish-Metairie-Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area or faces at least one of the following barriers to employment:
- Being homeless;
- Being a custodial single parent;
- Receiving public assistance;
- Having a prior arrest or conviction;
- Suffering from Chronic Unemployment;
- Having been emancipated from the foster care system;
- Being a veteran of the U.S. military.
If you identify with one or more of these categories, please complete the Hire NOLA Disadvantaged Attestation and email it to hirenola@nola.gov.
Section 3 Certification
The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance provide job training and employment opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.
If you live in government-assisted housing or if your household income falls below HUD's income limits, you may qualify as a Section 3. If so, then please complete the Section 3 form and email it to laborcompliance@nola.gov.