DCAP Brings Together Institutions and Local Businesses for Second Annual Sustainable Vendor Connection Day

Last month, The Coalition’s DC Anchor Partnership (DCAP), through its partnership with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) and in collaboration with the Georgetown University Office of Sustainability, hosted its second annual Vendor Connection Day. This year, centered on sustainability and the growing green economy.

The event brought together anchor institutions, procurement leaders, local suppliers, researchers, and community partners for a day focused on creating meaningful business connections tied to real contracting opportunities.

We know networking alone is not always enough. Small businesses consistently tell us that relationship-building is most valuable when it is connected to clear pathways for growth. That is why Vendor Connection Day is intentionally designed around curated, one-on-one meetings between local suppliers and institutional buyers, grounded in actual procurement needs, upcoming RFPs, and contract pipelines.

Advancing Opportunity in the Green Economy

This year’s sustainability theme reflected the growing shift in how institutions are defining value in procurement and operations. Across sectors, organizations are increasingly prioritizing sustainability goals, resilient supply chains, and community impact — creating new opportunities for local businesses that are prepared to meet evolving expectations.

The program featured a panel discussion exploring how sustainability standards and procurement expectations are changing, and what businesses can do to remain competitive in this evolving landscape.

Attendees also participated in a workshop led by researchers from the Kogod School of Business at American University, highlighting emerging research on how institutions are operationalizing sustainability within procurement systems and supplier engagement strategies.

Building Stronger Regional Partnerships

Sustainable Vendor Connection Day would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of a broad network of institutional, philanthropic, and community partners.

We also extend special thanks to Ward 3 Councilmember Matt Frumin for providing remarks and to the research team from American University — Nicole Darnall, Garima Sharma, and Sarah Iverson — for contributing their expertise to this year’s program.

This year’s Vendor Connection Day was made possible through support from the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the Georgetown University Office of Sustainability.

Looking Ahead

As institutions continue to rethink procurement, sustainability, and community impact, DCAP remains committed to ensuring local businesses are positioned to compete and grow.

Sustainable Vendor Connection Day is one example of how intentional partnership-building can create stronger pathways between anchor institutions and the local business community, helping translate institutional spending into long-term community wealth and economic opportunity.

DCAP’s work is made possible through the support of our partners and funders, including the DC Council, the DC Deputy Mayor’s Office for Planning and Economic Development, JPMorganChase, and Wells Fargo.