The Inclusive Economic Recovery Strategy (IERS) identifies ways that SCAG can work with local partners to foster inclusive economic prosperity as the region continues to recover from the economic and social disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IERS reflects SCAG’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and the final report will help SCAG further explore the integration of policy goals related to inclusive economic growth in the development and adoption of the Connect SoCal Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Community Strategy every four years.
SCAG developed the IERS as an activity of the Racial Equity Early Action Plan in close collaboration with stakeholders and practitioners, focusing on recommendations that SCAG is well positioned to lead or implement with an appropriate partner. The SCAG Regional Council adopted the final “An Inclusive Economic Recovery Strategy for the SCAG Region” report and recommendations on July 1, 2021.
In Spring 2022, with support from State Senator Susan Rubio, SCAG received one-time grant funding from the California Workforce Development Board to implement several core recommendations from the IERS and to guide SCAG’s efforts in advancing inclusive economic growth.
Inclusive Contracting Toolkit
The Inclusive Contracting Toolkit is a roadmap with actionable recommendations for procurement professionals in public agencies and private anchor institutions to implement inclusive contracting policies, programs, and practices. The toolkit includes a library of best practices and recommendations that reflect the range of emerging and promising inclusive contracting methods.
Recognizing all organizations approach to procurement uniquely, the Inclusive Contracting Toolkit provides insights into inclusive contracting by summarizing context, recommending immediate actions, and presenting proven tactics. The toolkit outlines policies, discusses challenges, suggests implementation steps, and provides real-world examples within the SCAG region. Moreover, it differentiates recommendations relevant to public agencies and private institutions and includes successful case studies from initiatives across the country.
The toolkit’s development included a thorough literature review and engagement with industry professionals and small business organizations. The Inclusive Contracting Technical Advisory Committee and industry focus groups provided invaluable insights, to firmly root the toolkit in the realities and opportunities currently facing procurement professionals in the SCAG region.
Quality jobs provide a foundation for economic growth and resilience against economic downturns. However, like many regions, Southern California has traditionally lacked data or frameworks to measure the quality of jobs in its large, complex economy. There are a wide range of approaches for measuring job quality overall—a task that becomes even more difficult when considering the nuances and limited data availability in a single region such as Southern California.
