Co-authored by Aleea Slappy Wilson, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, City of Norfolk, VA
Economic inclusion is a cornerstone of the City of Norfolk, Virginia’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. When the opportunity arose to join the National League of Cities (NLC) Southern Cities Economic Inclusion (SCEI) Initiative cohort and receive its accompanying grant, it was evident that this program was the logical next step in advancing the city’s commitment to economic equity.
The SCEI initiative empowers municipal and community leaders to advance and strengthen local strategies for economic inclusion.
The project is a collaboration between the National League of Cities and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with financial and strategic support from philanthropic partners, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation. Cities participating in SCEI gain access to peer learning networks, expert technical support, and funding to design and implement impactful economic inclusion initiatives.
The City of Norfolk was selected to participate in the previous cohort in 2021 along with 14 other southern cities. Through their participation in the project, Norfolk was able to achieve a significant goal that they began before joining: debundling a large janitorial contract into eight smaller opportunities, which ultimately awarded contracts to six Small, Women, and Minority (SWAM)-owned firms. This effort required months of collaboration among various internal city departments, underscoring the city’s dedication to fostering economic opportunities for SWAM businesses. While this was a milestone achievement, the city team recognized the need to expand its reach by identifying additional opportunities to debundle contracts and simultaneously increasing its spending with SWAM firms.
The SCEI initiative proved to be instrumental in the city’s progress. The program’s convenings and regular technical assistance calls with NLC staff provided an invaluable platform for sharing challenges, brainstorming solutions and learning from peer cities.
Bon Appétit: A Vision Realized Through SCEI
One pivotal outcome from these the project’s discussions was the development of the Bon Appétit Initiative — an innovative program designed to support the launch and growth of small food businesses while increasing citywide food spending with SWAM firms. Inspired by insights gained through the SCEI cohort, this initiative now comprises several impactful components:
- Bon Appétit Food Business Forum: Hosted biannually, this forum equips aspiring food entrepreneurs with the compliance resources needed to establish and grow food enterprises in Norfolk. These events have become a cornerstone of the city’s community engagement, bringing together industry experts, city officials and local businesses.
- Food Business Training Cohort: Currently in its third iteration, this intensive eight-week program supports existing food entrepreneurs seeking to scale their operations and engage in city contracting. Participants who successfully complete the program — which includes requirements like establishing a business website with menu offerings and obtaining SWAM certification — become eligible for a food business grant. These grants provide critical financial support to help entrepreneurs grow and thrive.
- Bon Appétit Food Truck Fair: In 2024, Norfolk hosted its inaugural Food Truck Fair at City Hall. This vibrant event showcased food trucks operated by graduates of the training cohort, offering city employees and residents an opportunity to enjoy diverse culinary offerings while directly supporting SWAM businesses.
- Citywide SWAM Spending Encouragement: In parallel with these efforts, Norfolk has implemented policies to encourage city employees responsible for event catering and food purchases to prioritize SWAM-owned food businesses, further embedding economic inclusion into everyday operations.
The SCEI Initiative was a key resource for Norfolk’s economic inclusion advancements, allowing the city to gain access to peer learning opportunities, technical assistance and funding that were critical to shaping the Bon Appétit Initiative.
As Norfolk continues to expand the Bon Appétit Initiative and explore additional avenues for economic inclusion, the lessons and resources gained through the SCEI cohort remain a driving force behind the city’s success. The Norfolk city team is looking forward to continuing their journey and inspiring other cities to embrace innovative approaches to economic inclusion.
The SCEI Initiative was a key resource for Norfolk’s economic inclusion advancements, allowing the city to gain access to peer learning opportunities, technical assistance and funding that were critical to shaping the Bon Appétit Initiative.
As Norfolk continues to expand the Bon Appétit Initiative and explore additional avenues for economic inclusion, the lessons and resources gained through the SCEI cohort remain a driving force behind the city’s success. The Norfolk city team is looking forward to continuing their journey and inspiring other cities to embrace innovative approaches to economic inclusion.
Sign Up for the SCEI Info Session
If you’re a southern city looking for support to fund economic inclusion initiatives in your community, then consider joining the next Southern Cities Economic Inclusion cohort. This opportunity is open to cities, towns and villages in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, only. Sign up for one of the upcoming info sessions to learn more!
About the Author
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