$69M Economic Initiative Aims To Create Jobs For Baltimore Residents
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- More than a dozen businesses are boosting Baltimore's economy and banding together to create new jobs for people who need them most.
George Solis has more on a multi-million dollar plan to make it all happen.
It's been nearly a year since the death of Freddie Gray sparked turmoil on the streets of Baltimore. The 25-year-old died from injuries while in police custody. Six police officers were charged in Gray's death.
As the cases play out in court, the corporate world is now trying to help area's hit hardest during the unrest.
"It's all about jobs, there's nothing that I think is more important to bend the trajectory of the city than job creation," said officials.
Jobs, more than two dozen of the city's largest employers plan to create through a program called "Blocal".
The premise is to build, buy, and hire locally.
The project promises to invest nearly $70 million back into the local community by hiring people from low income neighborhoods.
"More jobs needs to come into the city because it would take a lot of crime out of the city, a lot of people that's really struggling need to get more jobs," said one resident.
Creating jobs is one thing, making sure they go to people who need them most is the other part of the equation.
After all the hardships, many are hoping for this win.
More business are expected to join the Blocal movements in the next several years.
A similar program already exists at Johns Hopkins.
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