The board room at Old Historic Central High School was brimming Wednesday evening with people who had nothing but good things to say about the Duluth school district's long-range facilities plan.
About 300 local contractors attended an open house to learn about the job opportunities available within the nearly $300 million project. Plumbers, electricians, masons, roofers and more were buzzing about the work the job would create in the community.
"Without these projects, many of our [trade workers] would be looking at pretty slim amounts of work right now with this economy," said Don O'Connor, executive director of the Duluth Builders Exchange. "We have our very own economic stimulus package right here, right now."
O'Connor said the total value of construction work that occurred in Duluth in 2008 -- which included all industrial, commercial and residential work -- was about $148 million. The number was $119 million in 2007.
"In effect, if you look at the projected dollars for this project at about $300 million over three years, that is going to double the work that is happening in this community," O'Connor said.
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Architects and engineers outlined the scope of work involved in the long-range facilities plan and provided contractors information about what to expect in the bidding process.
Paul Morris, an employee of JP Concrete, said it appears the process will run smoothly.
"It looks like it's going to be real fair and honest," he said, "and it means a lot of work for people in this community."
Mickey Coughlan, a masonry contractor with Bedrock-Flint Inc., said he also was pleased about the job opportunities the project would create, but he hopes the district puts measures in place to keep it local.
"Something of this size will attract attention around the state," Coughlan said. Some out-of-town big businesses might be able to offer lower prices on some of the projects, he said, suggesting that the district give preference to local companies.
"That might mean we get a 2 percent preference ... so that if a local company comes in second on a bid but is within 2 percent of the first-place bidder, it goes to the local contractor," Coughlan said. "It just seems to make sense that the companies that are paying taxes on this get a leg up."
The long-range facilities plan is expected to provide construction work until the fall of 2013.
