July 26, 2019
As reported in CNBC: “LA becomes largest city in US to formally include LGBTQ businesses in contract process worth billions”
Washington, DC – The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the business voice of the LGBT community, is proud to announce the City of Los Angeles, CA has approved a policy to include NGLCC Certified LGBT Business Enterprises® (Certified LGBTBEs®) in contracting and procurement opportunities, as well as capacity building and educational programs from small businesses throughout the city. For LGBT citizens of LA, 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.This policy makes Los Angeles the largest city in America to intentionally include LGBT-owned businesses in municipal contracting and procurement opportunities, a best practice of the private sector and of an ever-growing number of states and municipalities. This landmark policy for the City of Los Angeles was encacted thanks to the advocacy of NGLCC and its local affiliate chamber partner, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of COmmerce (LAGLCC). In 2014, NGLCC, in collaboration with local affiliate chambers and advocacy leaders in California, enacted the first ever legislation that included Certified LGBTBEs® in public sector opportunities (AB1678); that policy paved the way for this historic announcement and many more like it, including the April 2019 announcement of Certified LGBTBEs® inclusion in Long Beach, CA — the first city in the state to do so.
“Thanks to the collaboration between NGLCC and our local affiliate chamber, the LAGLCC, LGBT entrepreneurs in the second largest city in America will now have the opportunity to create jobs and develop innovations that benefit all who live there,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & President Justin Nelson. “California has a legacy of leadership in promoting inclusivity at every level of public life. Now, history has been made here in Los Angeles, and 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 LGBT-owned business can supply it.’ We are excited to see Certified LGBTBEs® in every field from construction to catering and everything in between help grow the economy of California and beyond.”
In 2018 and early 2019, NGLCC won the inclusion of Certified LGBTBEs® in Orlando, FL; Nashville, TN; Baltimore, MD; Jersey City, NJ; and Hoboken, NJ, while also advancing statewide bills in New York and New Jersey. Currently, California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania also include Certified LGBTBEs®, along with major cities like Seattle, Newark, Columbus, and Philadelphia.
“This is a historic moment for Los Angeles and for our LGBT business community nationwide. If the second largest economy in America can see that including our innovative businesses is the right thing to do, nothing should stop other major cities and the federal government from doing what we’ve accomplished here in LA. I’m proud of our city to become more inclusive in their procurement efforts and their continued mission to make LA “open for business” with every community. We are eager for our LAGLCC members to take advantage of this unprecedented array of new opportunities and help us exponentially increase our local population of NGLCC certified LGBTBEs,” said Marquita Thomas, Executive Director, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC).
NGLCC will announce the opening of the LA supplier portal for Certified LGBTBEs® in July/August 2019.
“California has always had one of the strongest networks of NGLCC Certified LGBTBEs® and LGBT-owned companies, which also include businesses owned by those with disabilities, veterans, and more. We know this policy in Los Angeles will encourage more mayors and councils 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 as we are seeing in LA and across the country will ensure greater access to the American Dream for every American,” said NGLCC Co-Founder & CEO Chance Mitchell.
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ABOUT NGLCC:
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
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
