Syracuse residents are expected to have more job opportunities after Common Council passed legislation that has been in the works for more than four years.
Councilors passed Monday the Resident Employment Ordinance that mandates 20 percent of the work on many city projects must be done by residents.
That applies to construction, public works and service contracts totalling $100,000 or more.
There will be civil penalties and other sanctions for companies that don't comply.
Councilor Khalid Bey has been working with the Urban Jobs Task Force in an effort to bring more jobs to the city and reduce poverty.
"It's a move in the right direction and I think today the majority of the councilors demonstrated a legitimate and sincere concern for the people," Bey said.
A nationwide study in 2015 found that Syracuse ranked No. 1 in concentrated poverty for African-Americans and Latinos.