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City staff report progress on LEAP, EIC and workforce training; flag enforcement and tracking work ahead
Summary
City staff told the Economic Development Committee they have implemented most recommendations from the 2018–19 advisory report and reported 2025 outcomes for LEAP, EIC and training programs, while acknowledging gaps in enforcement on private development agreements and some payment‑tracking documentation issues.
City of Tacoma staff on Feb. 24 reported progress on local workforce programs — including the Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP), Equity and Contracting (EIC), and several training initiatives — and outlined next steps to strengthen enforcement and monitoring.
Deborah Gervaro of Community and Economic Development told the Economic Development Committee that staff have completed or partially completed 96% of the 2018–19 Community Workforce Advisory Committee's recommendations and described operational changes: the city now uses the state OMWBE roster for certified firms, has expanded EIC staffing, publishes a two‑year project forecast, and collects payment data on prime and subcontractors to monitor utilization.
Casey Woods, Business and Economic Development Manager, presented program results for 2025: LEAP recorded about 148,000 hours worked by local employees and apprentices and nearly $9.3 million in wages tied to those efforts, with roughly $2.6 million awarded to small minority and women‑owned businesses in Pierce County through EIC. TETA and other training programs reported credential completions and placements; Woods said cohorts included HVAC and green‑economy training in partnership with Clover Park Technical College and the Emerald Cities Collaborative.
Staff described several operational clarifications: LEAP requires 15% local/apprentice utilization as a program target; the city currently enforces EIC/LEAP on city‑funded projects but does not automatically enforce those requirements in private development agreements unless obligations are written into the agreement; and the prompt‑payment process (RCW 39.76) is monitored but many late‑payment complaints stem from missing payroll documentation. To reduce those gaps, staff plans additional capacity‑building workshops and proposed code changes that would make the LEAP workforce utilization plan due at bid and subject to responsiveness review.
Committee members asked for more granular metrics (participation counts, longitudinal employment outcomes at 3/6/9/12 months) and for clearer reporting on how LEAP and EIC goals compare to targets; staff said they track placements and wage progression over time and will provide more detailed updates when full year data are available.
What happens next: staff said they are working with finance and legal to finalize code updates, improve monitoring touchpoints during projects, and return with more detailed metrics and implementation timelines. No new funding or ordinance was adopted at the meeting.
Sources: staff presentations and committee Q&A at the Tacoma Economic Development Committee meeting, Feb. 24, 2026.
