Published: 2/29/2016
A newly released report by The Chicago Federation of Labor and the Sierra Club concluded that for every $1 billion spent in clean water infrastructure, an average of 11,200 jobs are created or saved. The report and its key findings were presented to The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) board members at a meeting in January. Gaining wide support from the District Board, the report also found an 8% return over one year was produced, emphasizing the importance of clean water projects to both the community and the economy.
The report, prepared by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was conducted over the 2014 fiscal year. It found that the MWRD and the City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management created or saved a total of 19,400 jobs in 2014 helping to reduce the regional unemployment rate by 0.73 percent.[1] While the study refers to vast improvements in the Greater Chicago area, it also highlights the need for continuous investments in water infrastructure projects. Additionally, the report highlights the importance of improving water quality and water management for not only Chicago but throughout Illinois.
Frank Manzo, ILEPI’s policy director, observed “Investments in clean water benefit the whole economy by making businesses and households run more smoothly, with less frequent disruptions from leaks, contamination and other water infrastructure failures.”[2] As such, the City of Chicago and the MWRD has the potential to create thousands of jobs annually and support economic growth through investments in clean water projects.
To read the report in full, please visit: http://illinoisepi.org/countrysidenonprofit/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ILEPI-PMCR-Research-Report-A-Flowing-Economy-FINAL.pdf
[1] Ellyn Fortino. Illinois Environmental, Labor Groups Highlight Economic Benefits Of Clean Water Projects. Progress Illinois. http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2016/01/07/illinois-environmental-labor-groups-highlight-economic-benefits-clean
[2] WaterWorld Magazine. REPORT: CLEAN WATER PROJECTS EMPLOYED 19,443 IN ILL. IN 2014. WaterWorld Magazine. http://www.waterworld.com/articles/2016/01/report-clean-water-projects-employed-19-443-in-ill-in-2014.html