When you create a comprehensive, strategic sourcing program with diverse spends, you’ll make an investment – and a difference – in the community you serve. Implementing a strategic sourcing initiative that taps into broader and more diverse supplier bases makes sense. Case in point: A large hospital system in a major city was expanding into a different region with the construction of a new hospital. Although the hospital had instituted a supplier diversity program, it lacked depth. During the initial construction phase, few local small businesses were hired. Local activists rallied. Soon, the supply-chain manager understood the impact of their existing sourcing strategy: “How can we call ourselves good neighbors – a good partner in the community – if we don’t make an investment in the community we serve?”

Ensure your public outreach is positive and impactful. Whether you are teaming with ZANN on a supplier diversity strategy or for DBE/SBE and M/WBE program development, consider collaborating on a comprehensive public-information program as well. Depending on the project’s needs, ZANN will develop and implement a project-specific public outreach plan for transit and large infrastructure capital projects that impact communities. Public outreach ensures you are proactively communicating with all stakeholders who are impacted by the project. The goal is to identify all stakeholders, ensure they are informed of the project and receive timely updates, ensure they understand how they may be impacted, and encourage them to become involved and engaged.