Worker & Community Protection

Business

Wage & Compensation Protection

The DEEO oversees compliance for construction projects under Davis Bacon & Related Acts (DBRA). These federal, state and local policies require minimum compensation of prevailing wages and fringe benefits to workers. DEEO staff ensure contractors and subcontractors pay laborers and mechanics employed directly upon the site of the work at least the locally prevailing wages (including fringe benefits) for the work performed.

Resources

HUD Economic Opportunity Program (Section 3)

The Section 3 program directs employment and other economic opportunities generated by Federally financially assistance for housing and community development to low- and very-low income persons, particularly those receiving government assistance for housing. DEEO staff ensure that contractors and businesses working on projects funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development are owned by residents or substantially employ residents that qualify for the program.

Resources

HUD Section 3

Purpose

The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD assistance or HUD-assisted developments covered by Section 3 shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, including persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing, with a preference for both targeted workers living in the service area or neighborhood of the Development and YouthBuild participants, as defined at 24 CFR Part 75 ("Section 3 Regulations").

Harris County is a recipient of HUD grant funding, including HOME funds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Funds, and Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, which require compliance with Section 3 of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) (“Section 3”).

HUD updated Section 3 with the Federal New Rule Regulations found at 24 CFR Part 75 that became effective November 30, 2020 and implemented on July 1, 2021. Harris County DEEO has created Section 3 Policies, which are provided for your reference.

Section 3 Policy (Plan)

Harris County HUD Section 3 Policy (Plan)

Resources

HUD Section 3 Guidebook  
Harris County Section 3 Business Registry
Harris County Section 3 Business Concern Outreach Flyer
Harris County DEEO Sec 3 Booklet
Harris County DEEO Section 3 Bid Requirements

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