D.C. Boom Not Felt by All in City, Study Says

For example, in 2004, no more than 30 percent of the jobs covered by First Source agreements went to D.C. residents, the report says. Less than one-third of the jobs at some economic-development projects, such as the Mandarin Oriental hotel and the Gallery Place retail complex, went to city dwellers.

The report calls for the creation of a community-college system with affordable tuition, the evaluation and improvement of training programs and the dedication of money toward literacy efforts to aid residents. It says the city should support partnerships between employers, government, trading providers and unions to funnel D.C. residents into jobs.

It also suggests improving employment conditions for the working poor, through such efforts as tax relief and a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation.

Smith said he thinks the business community would support the report, noting it was compiled by a team including a D.C. Chamber of Commerce representative, Margaret Singleton.

Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large), chairman of the D.C. Council's Economic Development Committee, said the report "will bring to light something I've been fighting for for a long time. We have a job-training problem in the District of Columbia."

The council recently passed legislation that he sponsored to increase auditing of the job-creation results at city-supported projects. He said he is also pushing for a 24-hour adult vocational facility.

Smith, of Appleseed, acknowledged it would be difficult for the city to take on costly new projects at a time of fiscal austerity, but he said the efforts would be of great benefit.

"It will help build the city's tax base," he said. "It will help reduce the very high costs we have in this city of social services. It's very much in the city's interest to invest in these families."