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Two Lake County municipalities have project labor agreement requirements for certain developments, and other local communities will be asked to consider taking similar action.

Hobart can optionally require project labor agreements for developments receiving tax abatement after the City Council unanimously adopted a measure about the matter last week.

In September last year, the Merrillville Town Council approved an ordinance requiring project labor agreements for all construction, alteration and repair projects completed in Merrillville's tax increment financing districts and on properties in which the town has granted tax abatement.

Project labor agreements would be negotiated between developers of projects and the Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council.

The agreements typically contain provisions requiring employers to pay workers at area prevailing wages and commit to hiring workers from local building trades.

Randy Palmateer, business manager of the Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council, said he has approached Schererville leaders about adopting a measure similar to what Merrillville and Hobart have in place.