on the hill

Marrero calls for local, minority hires from Electrolux

From the Commercial Appeal:

As Electrolux prepared to award an $80 million-plus contract to build its Memphis appliance factory, some elected officials raised a flag about the company’s intent to hire local construction workers.

In a letter dated Tuesday, chairmen of the Shelby County Commission and Memphis City Council and chairwoman of the Shelby legislative delegation cited “mutual concern regarding the local and minority participation” in the publicly financed construction project.

“Since nearly a year ago, we have been in full support of this project,” said the letter signed by Commissioner Sidney Chism, Councilman Myron Lowery and Sen. Beverly Marrero.

“However we cannot support a project that does not provide a return on investment to the communities that funded over $100 million of taxpayer dollars.”