Intentional Local Governance

Creating a culture in city hall that constantly has an eye toward uplifting marginalized communities is essential. Many cities are setting an example for such public policies by dedicating processes and full-time resources to promote inclusivity. Examples of such efforts include participatory budgeting processes, local procurement strategies and business-made-simple initiatives.

CASE STUDY: CLEVELAND’S LOCAL PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES

The City of Cleveland has several local procurement programs that focus on supply chain purchases from minority and female-owned local enterprises

OVERVIEW

  • Origin: Minority and Female-Owned Business Enterprise Program (2003), Cleveland Area Small Business Purchasing Program (2008), Local and Sustainable Purchasing Program (2010)
  • Local contracting given its own department: the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)
    Office oversees city’s entire procurement strategies and three aforementioned programs

RESULTS TO DATE

  • In 2014, 39% of $147 million in contracting to businesses that are either local and small, or local and minority- or female-owned
    • Increase by 10% from four years earlier
  • Mayor’s Office nationally recognized as one of most intentional cultures in local and minority procurement

CASE STUDY: MINNEAPOLIS’ BUSINESS MADE SIMPLE INITIATIVE

Internal policy to identify and alleviate cumbersome regulations that impact inclusive business formation in the city

OVERVIEW

  • Origin: Collaboration between City Attorney’s Office and Minneapolis Innovation Team
  • Initiative focused on 5 primary goals:
    • Simplify and streamline regulations
    • Provide special assistance for small businesses
    • Make things easier and faster
    • Improve coordination + eliminate inconsistency
    • Deliver better customer service and plan for continuous improvement

RESULTS TO DATE

  • Mayor conducted listening sessions with over 40 small and medium sized businesses to hear direct feedback on current red tape / regulations
  • City has removed many cumbersome regulations to date. For example:
    • Eliminated food-to-liquor regulations
    • Reduced processing times for license approvals by 50%