Section 3 Business Participation and Local Hiring Support

The contract under the title Section 3 Business Participation and Local Hiring Support is designed to ensure that low-income residents of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are given priority access to employment and subcontracting opportunities arising from federally assisted housing and community development projects, in full alignment with HUD’s Section 3 requirements. It mandates that contractors and subcontractors actively recruit, hire, and train individuals from low-income households within the county, with a focus on creating sustainable economic pathways and increasing local workforce participation. The scope centers on the NAICS code 238210, indicating a focus on plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contracting, and places the responsibility squarely on recipients of funding to demonstrate meaningful engagement with the targeted community. The solicitation opens on July 31, 2026, with a firm response deadline of August 14, 2026, and is administered by the County of Cumberland under the state of North Carolina. Participation requires compliance with federal guidelines ensuring that a significant portion of jobs and contracts are directed toward qualified low-income individuals and businesses located in Cumberland County. Contractors must establish verifiable processes for tracking employment outcomes, providing training, and documenting outreach to residents meeting the Section 3 eligibility criteria. The initiative aims to foster long-term economic development by linking public investment with local empowerment, ensuring that economic benefits of public projects directly uplift the communities most in need.