Marathon Refinery falls short on city jobs

Christine MacDonald, Detroit News, Feb. 4 2010--Marathon Petroleum has failed to deliver on jobs for Detroiters that were promised in exchange for tax breaks for its massive $1.5 billion tarsands refinery expansion. Company officials say they've tried, but a lack of skilled trades workers in the city and union rules have left them short of promises to hire 51 percent Detroiters. About 37 percent, or about 109, of the expansion project's construction workers were Detroiters as December. About 22 permanent hires in 2008 and 2009 live in the city, about 28 percent.

Company officials say they've done all they can to attract city residents, including, working with unions and the city to recruit, holding job fairs and testing taking workshops for hundreds of applicants and offering internships.
"It's beyond our capacity to control who wants to live in the city," said Christiane Fox, a spokesperson for Marathon.
The Detroit City Council demanded the jobs in 2007, when it approved tax credits worth $186 million over 20 years over fierce opposition from neighbors.

What's next
Councilman Kwame Kenyatta has launched a Southwest Detroit Taskforce aimed at dealing with the community's concerns. The first meeting will be from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Patton Community Center, 2301 Woodmere.