NEW RESOURCE: Anchored in Community Playbook

Overview

Anchor institutions such as hospitals, universities, and major employers hold enormous potential to strengthen local economies. Yet too often, their spending power bypasses the small and local businesses that create jobs, build wealth, and sustain communities.

The Coalition’s DC Community Anchor Partnership (DCAP) has proven that this can change.

Since 2017, DCAP has driven over $1 billion in contracting opportunities to DC’s small business community, demonstrating that intentional collaboration, data-driven strategy, and institutional alignment can reshape procurement systems and expand access to economic opportunity.

This new playbook distills nearly a decade of lessons, frameworks, and tools into a practical guide for leaders across the country. Whether you’re an economic development practitioner, policymaker, funder, or anchor institution, this report shows what’s possible when institutions work collectively toward inclusive local procurement.

Why it Matters

Local procurement is one of the most direct and scalable ways for communities to strengthen their economies. When anchor institutions intentionally shift even a small share of their purchasing to local small businesses, they help create good jobs, expand community wealth, and keep dollars circulating within the local economy. Small businesses are often the first to hire, the most rooted in their neighborhoods, and the most likely to reinvest in the places they serve. Aligning institutional purchasing with the needs and capacities of local suppliers also strengthens regional supply chains, enhances resilience, and advances racial and economic equity. In short, inclusive procurement turns everyday institutional spending into a powerful engine for shared prosperity.

Click below to access the full report and explore the tools, strategies, and actionable guidance that can accelerate inclusive economic growth in your community.