Community Benefits Agreements in the USA (Part 2)
December 10, 2019
This is one of a series of articles, based on a report commissioned by the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP).
Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) in the USA have included a wide range of benefits:
HOUSING |
Affordable housing (units in market-rate projects or geared to low-income households), funding, or financing (including interest-free loans). |
JOBS & SUPPLIERS |
Recruitment and referral system for targeted communities via existing agencies or new non-profits |
Fund for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship or job training. In Los Angeles and San Francisco, developer funds went to seed and operate a non-profit to coordinate training, job placements, and community engagement management. |
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Jobs and/or apprenticeships for local residents on construction project |
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Ongoing post-construction jobs for local residents |
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Living wage provisions |
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Local procurement/supplier provisions. Federal government programs for minority-owned, women-owned, and locally owned business enterprises often target such benefits. |
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COMMUNITY ASSETS & PUBLIC REALM |
Parks, open space and streetscapes (creation/redevelopment/planning studies) |
Funding or space for arts or public art |
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Space for local retailers and other businesses |
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Support for social programming (for youth, seniors, newcomers, etc.), local non-profit agencies or social enterprises |
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Space and/or support for community space, e.g. community centre, childcare centres, seniors’ centre, community kitchen, community gardens, and schools. The West Harlem CBA included significant and wide-ranging contributions to education from Columbia University. |
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Health clinic/funding for medical care |
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Food market (for an inner-city “food desert”, with little fresh and affordable food available) |
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Residential or other parking |
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OTHER BENEFITS |
Interest-free or affordable loans to non-profits. |
Free or subsidized Internet access and/or computer hardware for low-income residents, public libraries, parks, non-profits and/or schools. The Minneapolis CBA was a “digital inclusion CBA”. |
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Donations to the city (general funding) or public transit system. In New Haven, the developer funded two new positions at the city. |