Local hiring is a goal or requirement to hire people who live close to the place of work. This aim is often more specifically structured as a requirement for contractors awarded certain types of publicly funded projects to recruit a certain proportion of the people working on the project from a particular area. Proponents of local hiring ordinances claim the practice: * ensures that tax dollars are invested back into the local economy * reduces the environmental impact of commuting * fosters community involvement * preserves local employment opportunities in construction