The Insight Center, in partnership, with the DelACCESS Consortium, releases a new report on best practices in strategic sourcing and supplier diversity among 11 U.S. counties. The research was conducted by the Insight Center's Inclusive Business Initiative, along with DelACCESS Consortium, which is based in Newark, Delaware. The research was performed for New Castle County, Delaware, and the 11 counties were selected due to their similarity to New Castle County, as well as their procurement system.
New Castle County sponsored the research in order to determine strategies to save county funds due to strategic sourcing, but also to maximize county procurement with local small and diverse businesses, such as on projects funded by the federal Recovery Act (ARRA).
The Inclusive Business Initiative identified nine key components of supplier diversity programs and determined best practices among the 11 counties for each of the nine areas. For example, the study found that DeKalb County, GA; Essex County, NJ; and Fairfax County, VA had best practices in organizing numerous events and partnerships with local ethnic chambers and business associations.
This study and assistance to New Castle County was the first project in an ongoing partnership between the Insight Center and DelACCESS Consortium.
