The Village of McCook passes local ordinance to boost local workforce and economy.
COUNTRYSIDE, IL – The Village of McCook has taken a significant step in strengthening its public contracting process by passing a new Responsible Bidder Ordinance (RBO), ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects are awarded to the most qualified and responsible contractors.
The RBO establishes clear qualifications that contractors and subcontractors must meet to be eligible for public works projects in the Village of McCook. These requirements prioritize workforce training, safety, and high-quality craftsmanship while ensuring compliance with state and local laws. By implementing these standards, the Village of McCook is investing in a skilled workforce while safeguarding the integrity of its taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.
Public construction projects require expertise and precision. When contractors lack proper qualifications, projects risk delays, cost overruns, and safety hazards. The new RBO sets forth criteria to prevent such issues, including requirements for contractors to provide proof of registration with the Illinois Department of Revenue and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, comply with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, and participate in state-certified apprenticeship programs that have successfully graduated at least five apprentices in relevant trades over the past five years.
“The Village of McCook has demonstrated its commitment to responsible contracting by adopting this strong RBO,” said Jodi Frailey, Illinois Regional Manager at the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (III FFC). “This ordinance ensures that public works projects will be completed by a skilled and highly trained local workforce who provide the best value for taxpayers. The III FFC commends the Village of McCook for their dedication to raising the bar in the local construction industry.”
The III FFC is a nonprofit construction industry foundation, established to increase market share for responsible contractors, work opportunities for skilled craftsworkers, and value for taxpayers by executing a comprehensive program of procurement oversight, jobsite monitoring, market analysis, and public policy education. We raise standards in the construction industry. For more information about RBOs and the III FFC, visit www.iiiffc.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2025
CONTACT: Jill Gigstad, III FFC, (815) 254-3332 EXT 6, [email protected]