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Jobs to Move America, Lauren LaBorde
llaborde@jobstomoveamerica.org

Jobs to Move America Launches Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center
CBARC will partner with communities and employers to develop strong, equitable agreements. 

Jobs to Move America (JMA), a national nonprofit organization, is launching its Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center (CBARC), a unique initiative designed to support, guide and expand the development of robust and equitable community benefits agreements (CBAs) in the manufacturing sector.

Previously, Jobs to Move America has won CBAs with major greentech manufacturers including New Flyer and BYD, both of which have resulted in equitable hiring initiatives and, in the case of BYD, the country’s first electric bus manufacturing apprenticeship program. CBARC will draw from JMA’s expertise in negotiating and implementing these agreements across the country. 

CBARC will serve as a central hub of resources aimed at helping community leaders and employers work together to craft CBAs that prioritize workers’ rights, community well-being, and the creation of a diverse, skilled workforce in the booming clean energy sector. 

“Through CBARC, we hope to foster open dialogue between communities and employers,” said Jay Mehta, manager of the Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center. “Our goal is to build strong, beneficial agreements that center workers and their communities while helping industry leaders meet the challenges of building a diverse and skilled workforce for the future.”

CBARC will offer a variety of tools to support the development of community benefits frameworks that directly benefit those most impacted by the shift to advanced and green technologies. JMA plans to continually expand its resource library over the coming months to provide stakeholders with more comprehensive support in crafting equitable CBAs.

“Authentic community benefits agreements are a powerful tool for workers and businesses in the communities where clean energy manufacturing is taking root,” said Madeline Janis, Co-Executive Director and founder of Jobs to Move America, who is credited with negotiating the country’s first CBA at the Staples Center development in Los Angeles. “CBARC builds on Jobs to Move America’s success in negotiating agreements between labor, community and high road employers that share the vision of a win-win-win for all.”

Since its inception, CBARC staff have actively participated in public forums and events to share their expertise and vision for equitable CBAs. Some of the key engagements include:

  • The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
  • The Center for Economic Workforce Development (CEWD), Jobs for the Future, and What Works+
  • The Center for Community Change
  • Netroots Nation
  • “America is All-In” and The Bullard Center for Environmental Justice
  • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
  • The Economic Policy Institute’s Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)
  • The Aspen Institute’s “Community Benefits Agreements: A Tool for Creating Good Jobs” webinar 

As CBARC continues to grow, JMA hopes to foster meaningful conversations with community and industry stakeholders to explore how equitable CBAs can benefit workers, communities and businesses in the green technology space.

“We encourage everyone—workers, communities, and businesses alike—to reach out and collaborate with us,” said Mehta. “Together, we can ensure that all of us have the opportunity to thrive as we move toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.”

Find more information about CBARC at CBARC.org

About Jobs To Move America (jobstomoveamerica.org)
Jobs to Move America is a strategic organizing and policy center that works to transform public spending and corporate behavior using a comprehensive approach that is rooted in racial and economic justice. We seek to advance a fair and prosperous economy with good jobs and healthier communities for all.

About CBARC (CBARC.org)
The Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center (CBARC) is a unique program of Jobs to Move America (JMA) that seeks to meet this critical moment and advance the negotiation of effective and equitable CBAs.

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Resource Types:

    Project Labor Agreement Resource Guide

    JMA’s community benefits agreement with New Flyer is mentioned in the Department of Labor’s Project Labor, Community Workforce, and Community Benefits Agreements Resource Guide.

    Resource Types:
    • Factsheets