Historic collaboration between The City of Boston, The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce will generate needed social and economic gains for the LGBT business community of Boston.
Nov 1, 2021 (Boston, MA / Washington, DC) – The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce (MALGBTCC) is proud to announce Boston Mayor Kim Janey has signed an executive order including NGLCC Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) suppliers and ensuring they have equitable access to contracting and procurement opportunities throughout the city. For LGBT citizens of Boston, this inclusive policy provides fair and equal access to contracting opportunities and economic development programs that drive innovation, create jobs, and promote economic growth throughout the region.“Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Janey and of our outstanding affiliate chamber, The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce, LGBT entrepreneurs in the Boston region will now have the opportunity to create jobs and develop innovations that benefit all who live there. History has once again been made in Boston, locally codifying the first-in-the-nation inclusion of LGBTBEs enacted in 2016. This victory for inclusivity has once again proved our core values that ‘diversity is good for business’ and that ‘if you can buy it, a Certified LGBTBE® can supply it.’ We are excited to see LGBTBEs in every field, from construction to catering and everything in between, help grow the economy of Boston and beyond,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson.
Coupled with the educational, mentorship, networking and access to capital programs offered by both the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and MALGBTCC networks, business owners from across all diverse communities in the greater Boston region will see fresh opportunities to thrive.
“As a result of the hard work NGLCC did back in 2015, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts included certified LGBTBEs into the state’s supplier diversity program, through Executive Order 565 signed by Governor Baker. Since then, we have been working with various Boston mayoral administrations to implement the same policy of including LGBTBEs in the city’s supplier diversity program, which aims to make up 25% of the city’s annual budget. On Wednesday, October 27th, we had success when the fearless Mayor Kim Janey, the first woman and first woman of color to serve as Mayor of Boston, signed an executive order making exactly this change, opening the door to more opportunity for LGBTQ-owned businesses. This has paved the way for a statewide effort to reach other municipalities throughout Massachusetts and get them all to also include LGBTBEs in their diverse spending. This is a vibrant time in Massachusetts,”said Grace Moreno, Executive Director and CEO, Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development will provide implementation and oversight of this new initiative. Educational webinars and additional information about the inclusion of LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) in their online certification directory will be shared via email, as well as on national and local chamber websites, in the weeks ahead.
This Executive Order now adds Boston to the ever-growing roster of municipalities working with NGLCC and its affiliates to intentionally create an initiative to expand its inclusion of LGBT-owned businesses in economic development and procurement opportunities. Recent advocacy wins for NGLCC Certified LGBTBE® suppliers include New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Miami; Nashville; and statewide opportunities with Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California
“While we have a long way to go for LGBT equality in the region, Massachusetts has always defied stereotypes and discrimination with a strong and growing network of NGLCC Certified LGBTBE® suppliers and LGBT-owned companies. We hope this Executive Order in Boston will encourage more cities in Massachusetts to replicate this and the Governor’s order to proactively include the LGBT community for the optimum social and economic health of their cities. Collectively, LGBT-owned businesses contribute to the $1.7 trillion dollars that the LGBT business community puts into the national economy. Progressive and inclusive leadership, like that of Mayor Janey will ensure greater access to the American Dream for every American,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & CEO Chance Mitchell.
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The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses, known as LGBT Business Enterprises (Certified LGBTBEs®). www.nglcc.org @nglcc
