Community Benefits

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A key project feature is the inclusion of a Community Benefits Plan. On the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, community benefits are identified opportunities that can advance economic, social or environmental conditions for the local communities. In developing the Community Benefits Plan, it was important to the project team that the initiatives selected for implementation would provide positive outcomes for the Windsor-Detroit region and specifically focus on enhancing the communities of Sandwich and Delray, the neighbourhoods closest to the project area.

The Community Benefits Plan reflects community priorities and is comprised of two components:

Blue icon of a worker wearing a hardhat

The Workforce Development and Participation Strategy is geared toward engaging businesses and focuses on supporting workforce, training and pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship opportunities.

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The Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy focuses on collaborating with stakeholders and community members through consultation to develop a community investment strategy based on identified priorities.

Read the Community Benefits Plan

Early in the planning process for this project, it was understood that the delivery of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project provides opportunity to leverage a significant infrastructure investment for positive social and economic outcomes. That is why the Crossing Agreement signed in 2012 by the Government of Canada and the State of Michigan required the incorporation of a Community Benefits Plan for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project that covers both Canada and Michigan and includes direct input from stakeholders and community as well as their continued involvement, partnering with local institutes of higher learning, unions and others, job training and local job development.

Community Input

Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and its Michigan partners meaningfully engaged and empowered the Windsor and Detroit communities in all stages of development of the Community Benefits Plan. Bridging North America (BridgingNA) joined this consultation process after Financial Close in September 2018.

Between 2015 and 2019, a two-phase consultation approach was undertaken with Ontario and Michigan residents, Indigenous Peoples, business owners and community and municipal leaders resulting in over 230 unique suggestions for community benefits and engagement of thousands of stakeholders. Activities that informed the Community Benefits Plan included public meetings, one-on-one meetings, focus groups, a public survey, social media and direct correspondence.

Most of the submissions fell within five priority areas, including:

Construction worker icon Local workforce and training strategies

Wrench and screwdriver icon Construction and operations effect on the community

Link icon Community safety and connections

Icon with hills and trees Aesthetics and landscaping

Icon of many people connected by lines Regional economic and community development opportunities

Workforce Development and Participation Strategy

As part of the Community Benefits Plan, a strategy geared toward engaging businesses and providing employment opportunities has been developed and is centered on (i) workforce development, (ii) training and (iii) pre-apprenticeships/apprenticeships.

There are three sections to this strategy:

I. at least $250 million of the total value of the work during the design-build phase in Canada will be performed by, contracted to, or supplied by the workers or contractors located in the City of Windsor, Essex County or within 100 kilometres of the City of Windsor

II. engaging and employing Canadian Indigenous Peoples in and around the City of Windsor, Essex County and Walpole Island, Ontario and contracting their businesses

III. engaging, employing and contracting Detroit residents and Detroit-based and Detroit-headquartered businesses.

A team of workers welding a pipe

In addition, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal established for this project is 2.15% of the cost of the construction and engineering work needed to complete the Michigan Interchange and the portion of the Bridge located in Michigan.

Collectively more than 80 initiatives have been identified for implementation to ensure that Windsor, Detroit and Canadian Indigenous Peoples have opportunities for employment or to provide goods and services to the project.

These initiatives focus on ways to engage the following entities:

General Public/Stakeholders
Elementary and Secondary Schools
Post-Secondary Institutions
Subcontractors
Unions
Vendors
Workforce Development Agencies

A full list of the initiatives including timelines and delivery partners is available in the Community Benefits Plan (Spanish version). Here are a few highlights:

Training/Education Opportunities:

Partner with local educational institutions to identify research opportunities
Participate in speaker series and offer mentorship
Partner with apprenticeship organizations and local unions
Provide ESL and job training sessions
Partner with educational institutions to provide co-op/work placements

Indigenous Peoples Opportunities:

Explore business partnership opportunities
Implement First Nations policy
Commission local artists to create community/art murals
Partner with training organizations to arrange onsite training
Increase awareness of skilled trades careers and support apprenticeship programs

Employment Opportunities

Require subcontractors hire at least 20% new hires from local region
Participate in job fairs/employment sessions
Identify and select pre-apprentices and apprentices
Enhance the community/employment groups awareness of the project and skills required

Business Opportunities

Host Business-to-Business info sessions
Provide two-way communication with local subcontractors
Provide online system to invite local businesses to submit information on capabilities and capacity
Foster growth of small companies by purchasing goods, supplies and services under $25,000

9 Things to Know about the Workforce Development and
Participation Strategy

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Icon of people watching a business presentation Learn more about project opportunities and how to get involved

A large group gathered in a public greenspace

The second component of the Community Benefits Plan is the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy, a $20 million community investment focused on priorities identified through the two-phase consultation that occurred between 2015-2019 with communities, businesses, First Nations and other stakeholders in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy is comprised of initiatives that are consistent with the Crossing Agreement and the key regional priorities identified through consultation including: community partnerships, community safety and connections, economic benefits and aesthetics and landscaping. The initiatives target the Sandwich/west Windsor area and the Delray/Southwest Detroit area ensuring that the communities adjacent to the project are the ones benefitting most from the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy.

Collectively, 29 community investment initiatives have been identified and will be implemented collaboratively with local delivery partners during the design and construction period of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. A detailed list of initiatives is available in the Community Benefits Plan (Spanish version). Here are a few highlights:

Canadian Initiatives for Delivery:

Aesthetics and Landscaping Investments - $2.75 million

Ojibway Park Wildlife Eco-Passage Investment
Sandwich Street Enhancements
Sandwich Park Improvements
Neighbourhood Green Improvements

Community Partnerships - $1.47 million

Community grant to Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN)
Community Organization Investment
Multi-year grant to ProsperUS program
Sandwich Neighbourhood Art Project

Community Safety and Connections - $2.13 million

Expand adjacent trails to the Gordie Howe International Bridge
Construction observation platform
Bike Rack Design Contest

Economic Benefits - $850,000

Sandwich Business Development Program
Windsor-Detroit Cross River Tour – Canadian Features
Culinary Student Training Experience

US Initiatives for Delivery:

Aesthetics and Landscaping Investments - $5.34 million

Community Home Repair Program
Local Street Enhancements
Neighbourhood Trailhead and Garden
Park Improvements
Neighbourhood Green Improvements

Community Partnerships - $695,000

People’s Community Service (PCS) Improvements
Community Organization Investment
Fort Street Bridge Project
Delray Neighbourhood Art Project

Community Safety and Connections - $1.33 million

Expand Adjacent Trails to Connect to Gordie Howe International Bridge
Construction Observation Platform
Bike Rack Design Contest
Transportation Improvements

Economic Benefits - $285,000

Windsor-Detroit Cross-River Tour – US Features
Southwest Detroit Business Development Program

Initiative Expansion Allocation

The allocations for initiatives currently do not total $10 million for each side. Bridging North America is committed to expending the full amount. In Canada, the $2.8 million remains unallocated and in the US $2.35 million remains unallocated. These monies are identified as the Initiative Expansion Allocation.

The Initiative Expansion Allocation will provide additional funding to initiatives noted in the Community Benefits Plan Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy in the event that final costs for an initiative are higher than originally planned. The funds may also be used for new initiatives not included at the time of the plan finalization.