Meeting DEI Where It's At: Innovative Outreach Approaches

The City of Los Angeles is home to the most innovative infrastructure solutions in the world. Sustainability and environmental stewardship are at the core of actions taken daily to service the diverse community. Diversity in the city of Los Angeles gives the City (entity) access to a rich range of talent, representing different experiences, perspectives, and styles. These differences foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that makes industry stronger and a better organization on every level. DEI goals are both internal to the City as an organization and external with workforce development and business relationships. In order to meet the DEI goals set forth by the Mayor and LA City Council leadership, the City initiated various programs. This paper explores three programs in which public agencies partner with private industry to further advance DEI goals within the external workforce industry. In order to achieve the desired diversity our industry seeks; it is important to develop thoughtful outreach events that provide the opportunity to engage with local Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) where they are at. Equally challenging is staying connected with industry during COVID virtual environment. To stay connected and increase the participation and business opportunities with the Los Angeles MWBE community, City of Los Angeles has created specific programs. - Accessing LA is the flagship contracting and business networking event of the City of Los Angeles hosted virtually to share information and resources on how to do business with the City. The event aimed to offer MWBEs an opportunity to learn about business opportunities in the Greater Los Angeles area. Specifically, the partnership aimed to provide MWBEs with information on upcoming business opportunities in the Los Angeles Area, information on Tetra Tech and their disadvantaged business partnering programs and provide the strengthened message that Los Angeles leadership is committed to growing diverse business partners in the area. - Small Business Advisory Council hosted by Bureau of Public Works Commissioners' Aura Garcia and Mike Davis. The council consist of MWBE representatives, large prime contractor representatives, and public agency representatives. The council is focused on meeting regularly to address key issues that present challenges to growing the diverse industry base in the area. The council aims to share key procurement initiatives, make connections for business partnerships, and develop working solutions to industry challenges. Tetra Tech is an active participant in the council and provides input on growing MWBEs. - Small Business Academy hosted by the Department of Public Works Bureau of Public Administration. The L.A. Small Business Academy is a 7-session course that is made possible by the collaboration of the Department of Water & Power (DWP), the Port of Los Angeles (POLA), the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Department of Public Works (DPW). The Academy was initiated to engender the growth, sustainability, and success of small business enterprises through the provision of courses that provide direct information and insight about marketing, financing, insuring, and working on design-build, and other future projects. The completion of an extensive program focusing on empowering and preparing small, women, minority, and military veteran-owned firms. Tetra Tech partnered with the academy to host an outreach event. These initiatives are proving successful at efforts to grow a diverse business base in Los Angeles.