HUD secures $1.2 Million in federal prevailing wage back-pay for Kansas City metro construction workers; focus now on distributing the funds

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently recovered over $1.2 million in back-pay for 114 workers at the Commerce Tower project located at 911 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64105.

Affected construction workers on the project from between May 2016 and July 2020 may be eligible to receive backpay averaging close to $11,000. However, reaching the workers is proving difficult. Despite the use of available administrative records and search tools, many of the impacted workers from the Commerce Towers project cannot be located.

To ensure that there is growing awareness of this issue and the availability of funding, HUD's Office of Davis Bacon and Labor Standards (DBLS), Central Area Hub will be taking a series of additional steps to help spread the word. On or after November 4, HUD will begin to do the following:

• Hold office hours at the regional HUD office in Kansas City, Kansas where potential recipients of restitution can have their case substantiated and receive vouchers from HUD to receive their funds.
• Planned Office-Hours are on November 8, 15 and 22 and December 6. The times will be 9am -12pm in person. Call 913-551-5462 or email us at DBLSCentralAreaHub@hud.gov to schedule your visit. Additional office hours times and events may be announced.
• Continue weekly announcements on social and traditional media about these funds and how to apply.

To-date, nearly $630,000 has been distributed to 41 workers.

"Construction workers serve a critical role in advancing HUD's mission by building quality and sustainable housing which improves the quality of life of the people who live in these communities. HUD is committed to ensuring all workers on HUD-funded projects are paid properly for their work," said DBLS Central Hub Director Linda Banks about the need to get the funding to workers.

The back-pay is the result of an underpayment by the Commerce Towers prime contractor and several of its subcontractors during the initial phases of the building's construction. Some of the sub-contractors have since gone out of business, adding to the difficulty of the search.

For information about eligibility for the wage pay-out, workers may call the HUD Kansas City Regional office mainline at (913) 551-5462 and ask for assistance on the Commerce Tower restitution case.

Questions related to pay-outs may also be referred to the DBLS central email inbox at DBLSCentralAreaHub@hud.gov (please put "Commerce Tower Wage Recovery Inquiry" in the subject line).

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