Brian Hagberg
RUSSELL, Pa. – Major construction projects within the Warren County School District don’t just benefit students, they help boost the local economy as well.
During Monday’s Physical Plants and Facilities committee meeting, Director of Building and Grounds Services, Dr. Norbert Kennerknecht, explained how a provision in the contract requires that certain money be put into Warren County businesses.
“On larger projects, we required contractors to spend 10 percent of the total contract cost on businesses in Warren County,” Kennerknecht said. ” We would withhold the balance of that 10 percent if they are unable to produce documentation that it was spent in the county.”
The Local Participation Verification Update presented to the committee Monday showed a total goal of more than $1.65 million to be spent in the county. As of Oct. 23, more than $1.45 million of that goal had been verified as spent in over 50 Warren County businesses.
Of the four project areas, General, HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical, three (HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical) had actually spent more than the required 10 percent.
“I just bring this to show that the construction project does help the economy in Warren County,” Kennerknecht said. “I could make the bold statement that we could have easily required 20 percent and they wouldn’t have any problem meeting that quota as well.”
