The Challenge
Like many other cities, Boston wanted to improve the racial and gender diversity of its vendors so that contracted dollars also support the City’s equity goals. This effort further aligns with the City’s goal of having local residents win a greater fraction of its contracts.
The Project
The City established concrete vendor diversity goals and, with pro-bono technical assistance from the GPL, created a performance tracking system to monitor progress, streamlined procurement practices to improve accessibility and transparency, and expanded technical assistance for diverse vendors.
The Solution
Initial signs, including increased vendor diversity for maintenance contracts, suggest these strategies work. Additionally, the City launched a New Small Business Center to serve as a one-stop resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs, providing professional training, networking, and one-on-one coaching sessions.
More Research & Insights
Strengthening Vendor Engagement to Better Support Women and Minority-Owned Businesses in Buffalo, NY
