The Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body has joined many other organizations in supporting the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center expansion that will be on the ballot in a special election Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Delegates unanimously endorsed the $67 million project at their Feb. 9 monthly meeting. The expansion project will mean as many as 300 union construction jobs that could begin as early as this fall, said Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council President Craig Olson.
"Of course we're interested in jobs for our members that would be created through the project labor agreement we have with the DECC," said Olson. "But a new DECC will benefit this whole region once it's done and begins to serve as the entertainment hub for people from 100 miles away and more. It seems like an obvious yes vote when we can get almost half of it paid for by the State of Minnesota."
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and House Speaker Steve Sviggum both have said if voters approve the Feb. 28 ballot measure they think the state would come through with about $31 million. Local supporters of the project are hoping to win by a wide margin, hopefully 60 to 40 percent, to send a clear message.
Funding for the project would come from a 0.75 percent increase to the current 9 percent food and beverage tax. "ArenaYes!," a group that has surfaced in support of the project, says a good share of the money generated by that tax increase will come from visitors to Duluth.
Todd Erickson, secretary-treasurer of UNITE HERE! Local 99 that represents workers in unionized bars, restaurants and hotels, says a larger DECC will increase the number of events the facility can attract each year.
"More events will hopefully translate into more hours for workers in the entire hospitality industry here," Erickson said. "We're especially hopeful that a larger DECC will be able to draw events in the slower times of the year."
Larry Sillanpa edits the Labor World, the official publication of the Duluth Central Labor Body. Visit the newspaper's website, www.laborworld.org
For more information
More on the DECC vote can be found at www.arenayes.com.
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The Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body has joined many other organizations in supporting the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center expansion that will be on the ballot in a special election Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Delegates unanimously endorsed the $67 million project at their Feb. 9 monthly meeting. The expansion project will mean as many as 300 union construction jobs that could begin as early as this fall, said Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council President Craig Olson.
“Of course we’re interested in jobs for our members that would be created through the project labor agreement we have with the DECC,” said Olson. “But a new DECC will benefit this whole region once it’s done and begins to serve as the entertainment hub for people from 100 miles away and more. It seems like an obvious yes vote when we can get almost half of it paid for by the State of Minnesota.”
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and House Speaker Steve Sviggum both have said if voters approve the Feb. 28 ballot measure they think the state would come through with about $31 million. Local supporters of the project are hoping to win by a wide margin, hopefully 60 to 40 percent, to send a clear message.
Funding for the project would come from a 0.75 percent increase to the current 9 percent food and beverage tax. “ArenaYes!,” a group that has surfaced in support of the project, says a good share of the money generated by that tax increase will come from visitors to Duluth.
Todd Erickson, secretary-treasurer of UNITE HERE! Local 99 that represents workers in unionized bars, restaurants and hotels, says a larger DECC will increase the number of events the facility can attract each year.
“More events will hopefully translate into more hours for workers in the entire hospitality industry here,” Erickson said. “We’re especially hopeful that a larger DECC will be able to draw events in the slower times of the year.”
Larry Sillanpa edits the Labor World, the official publication of the Duluth Central Labor Body. Visit the newspaper’s website, www.laborworld.org
For more information
More on the DECC vote can be found at www.arenayes.com.