Gainesville honors IBEW Local 1205 with street naming

Published on September 19, 2025

The City of Gainesville is honoring the 85th anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1205 with a dual street naming, recognizing decades of service by one of the community's most influential labor organizations. At the evening session of yesterday's regular meeting, the Gainesville City Commission adopted a resolution designating the portion of NW 25th Avenue from NW 8th Street to NW 6th Street as "IBEW Avenue." The stretch of road was chosen because it runs adjacent to the union hall.

As part of the largest organization of electrical workers in North America, Gainesville's IBEW Local 1205 represents electricians, linemen and skilled tradespeople in industries including construction and utilities. The IBEW negotiates multi-year contracts with employers, returning to the table regularly to update wages, benefits and working conditions. The union's apprenticeship program, operated with the North Florida Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, has trained hundreds of workers, pairing classroom learning with on-the-job experience.

Gainesville City Commissioner-At-Large (Seat A) James Ingle, who serves as president of IBEW Local 1205, has been deeply engaged in ensuring the union's significance is recognized by the larger community. Ingle began his own career through the IBEW apprenticeship program, a path that provided him with a trade and later influenced his decision to serve in public office.

"For 85 years, IBEW Local 1205 has built more than power lines and wiring-it has built careers, stability and pride for working people in Gainesville," said Commissioner Ingle. "This street naming honors the electricians and apprentices who keep our community moving forward and reflects the union's role in making sure hard work leads to a better life."

The recognition also reflects the Gainesville City Commission's larger commitment to helping working families. Over the past several years, commissioners have advanced initiatives designed to expand opportunity and improve quality of life, including:

• Workforce housing: Through partnerships with organizations like Bright Community Trust and initiatives such as free plans to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the city has donated land and supported projects that increase access to affordable housing.
• Education and learning opportunities: The city has developed programs and partnerships aimed at helping young people gain skills and narrow educational and opportunity gaps.
• Traffic and public safety improvements: Through the Vision Zero program and targeted infrastructure investments, Gainesville is redesigning streets to make them safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, addressing concerns that disproportionately affect working-class neighborhoods.
• Neighborhood support: Investments in the Eastside Health and Economic Development Initiative (EHEDI), Mobility on Demand (MOD) transportation options through the Regional Transit System (RTS), and the Community F.I.R.S.T. initiative to bring city leadership directly into neighborhoods are aimed at creating a stronger, more connected city.

For Gainesville Mayor Harvey L. Ward, honoring IBEW Local 1205 is also about looking ahead. Celebrating the union's role in Gainesville's economy provides an opportunity to stress the importance of continued investment in training, good jobs and robust technological infrastructure across the community.

"IBEW Local 1205 has equipped people with skills that open doors and helped set a standard for what work in Gainesville should look like," said Mayor Ward. "In my opinion, dedicating IBEW Avenue is one part history and one part showing who we are-a community that gives working people a chance to thrive."

IBEW Local 1205 is coordinating a public ceremony to unveil the new street sign on Oct. 7, the exact date the local was chartered in 1940. The event to mark the union's 85-year history is expected to bring together city leaders, union members and community partners to mark the occasion with both celebration and reflection.

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