CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Expanding Quicken Loans Arena will bring jobs to local laborers. And that's why the 17 unions in the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council are backing the plan to spend $160 million in tax dollars on the renovation.
The council, made up of 14,000 members, held a news conference Monday to showcase its support.
"We own the project so we should fund it," said Dave Wondolowski, executive secretary of the organization. "From our perspective this is first and foremost about jobs for our members, but more importantly it's about keeping the ball rolling in Cleveland, keeping our foot on the pedal and continuing growth."
The Cleveland Cavaliers want to upgrade the fan experience at the Q, with work that would cost $282 million over 18 years. The Cavs would pay $122 million through increased rent.
Cuyahoga County, Cleveland and Destination Cleveland would all chip in for the public portion.
The use of tax dollars has angered some organizations, including Greater Cleveland Congregations, which packed a Cuyahoga County council meeting last week. The group says the money should go to Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Wondolowski stressed jobs. He said improving Quicken Loans could also lead to other jobs in the area, as the stadium sparks economic development.
In the crowd Monday, Eddie Hughes, a member of the 310 Laborers' Union for the past 25 years, said opponents of funding the project with taxpayer dollars should think about the bigger picture.
"Construction work is my livelihood," he said. "It would help a lot of lives in a lot of different ways."