Local Procurement Initiative Celebrates Milestone of $250 Million to Minority Owned Businesses

District hospital systems, universities, and utility companies come together to support the growth of local DC-Based Minority-Owned Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC | The Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) is thrilled to announce one of its flagship initiatives, the DC Community Anchor Partnership (DCAP) has successfully aided in the distribution of $250 Million to Washington, DC-Based Minority-Owned Businesses (MBEs) since the program’s launch in 2017.

This milestone was celebrated through an announcement event in partnership with the District of Columbia’s Executive Office of the Mayor on Thursday, September 28^th at 11am at the Washington Gas Penthouse. Attendees enjoyed remarks from special guests Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember At-Large Kenyan McDuffie.

DCAP is a high-impact initiative that engages large local “anchor institutions” (placed-based entities including hospitals, universities, and utility companies) and local MBEs to re-engineer institutional procurement systems and reduce their barriers to contract opportunities. DCAP works closely with minority business owners to help them better navigate the procurement process and submit RFPs for large local contracts for which they might not have been competitive in the past.

“From RFP matching and bid assistance to additional training, opportunities, and access to capital, CNHED’s DCAP initiative has helped to grow my business exponentially. I’ve won highly competitive contracts with some of the District’s largest companies and have profoundly expanded my relationships and connections in the space. One of the reasons I started Foghill was to help increase access and availability of stable jobs in my community. Thanks to DCAP, I’ve been able to provide more opportunity for my neighborhood.”

- Shinar Little, Founder of Foghill, LLC, a full-service facilities maintenance company

In the past six years, the District has seen local MBE spending from large institutions increase from $5.73M to $250M today. This is due in no small part to the commitment and dedication of DCAP’s Anchor Institutions, who fully engage with CNHED, in many cases, re-engineered complex procurement systems, and embraced the intentionality required for long-term impactful change. DCAP began with only four Anchor Institutions, and has grown to 13 today:

Georgetown University
Children’s’ National Hospital
Sibley Memorial Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Bridgepoint Healthcare
Pepco
American University
Adventist Healthcare

George Washington University Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital
DC Water
The University of the District of Columbia
Whitman-Walker Health, and;
DCAP’s newest Anchor, Kaiser Permanente

“Kaiser Permanente is thrilled to support the growth of the DC Anchor Partnership, both as an anchor member and as a funder. At Kaiser Permanente, we know that a thriving, diverse business community and equitable economic opportunity are foundational to the health and wealth of the Capitol Region.”

- Ondrea McIntyre-Hall, Senior Director of Community Health at Kaiser Permanente.

“This accomplishment would not be possible without the robust support from Mayor Bowser, Councilman McDuffie, and all of the participating community institutions. The DCAP Anchor Institutions in particular deserve great credit for undertaking this effort to support local minority-owned businesses. Not only have business owners benefited greatly from these efforts but also District residents who are employed at these companies, launching a chain reaction of economic opportunity and growth.”

- Stephen Glaude, President and CEO of CNHED

Co-convened by CNHED and the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and financed by the Mayor, the District of Columbia Council Committee on Business and Economic Development, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Kaiser Permanente; DCAP works with these local corporations to help them better use their procurement power to support the growth of local MBEs and cultivate a more equitable procurement landscape.

“Through the DC Community Anchor Partnership, we are creating more wealth, jobs, and economic opportunity for District residents. When we hire DC businesses, we create jobs for DC residents and we keep dollars in DC – all of that is good for residents, it’s good for local businesses, and it’s good for our neighborhoods.”

- District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser

“I am proud to have supported the DC Community Anchor Partnership (DCAP) since its inception. The mission of DCAP closely mirrors the initiatives I’ve passionately championed, aimed at fostering greater equity for minority and women-owned businesses within the District. Today, it brings me immense joy to celebrate DCAP’s monumental achievement, having surpassed the remarkable milestone of awarding $250 million to minority-owned firms here in the nation’s capital. This success is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the DCAP institution and the businesses that have steadfastly supported this initiative. These endeavors represent a collective commitment to leveling the playing field and prioritizing inclusivity, resulting in tangible benefits for our vibrant city.”

- Councilmember At-Large Kenyan McDuffie

Local Procurement Initiative Celebrates Milestone of $250 Million to Minority Owned Businesses

District hospital systems, universities, and utility companies come together to support the growth of local DC-Based Minority-Owned Businesses

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