Delete WardJun 18, 2025
Council President Blaine Griffin recently joined Tyson Mitchell, Director of the City’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Bedrock's Nadia Sesay, Chief Community Growth and Development Officer, for a panel discussion on Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) at the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) conference, held right here in Cleveland, Ohio. The conversation underscored the growing importance of these agreements in ensuring that development projects genuinely benefit the communities they impact. Council President Griffin, a staunch advocate for Cleveland's taxpayers, emphasized the crucial need for transparency and accountability in such deals, asserting that public investment must deliver a clear return for the city's residents. The discussion highlighted a shared commitment to fostering equitable development that truly uplifts Cleveland's neighborhoods.
A key point of the panel, taking place within the context of a national conference focused on minority contractors, was the imperative for Cleveland taxpayers to receive a tangible return on their investment, especially when public funds are involved. Council President Griffin specifically highlighted that any developer receiving $250,000 or more in financial assistance from the City of Cleveland is mandated to enter into a Community Benefits Agreement.
This commitment to community benefits has been strongly supported by Council, which unanimously passed the Community Benefits Agreement legislation in June 2023. This legislative action was further bolstered by the passage of legislation that included $10 million for workforce development through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $5 million in minority business support, which also created a mentor-protege program. The progress made with CBAs thus far is evident in several key achievements: 33 community benefit agreements have been forged, resulting in $147 million spent with diverse companies. Furthermore, 58 mentor-protege programs have been established to invest in the next generation of contractors and developers, alongside 71 apprenticeships and 100 paid internships specifically for Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students. These tangible outcomes demonstrate how CBAs serve as the vital mechanism to formalize these expectations and hold developers accountable.
The dialogue with Mitchell and Sesay, within the impactful setting of the NAMC conference, provided valuable insights into how developers like Bedrock are approaching CBAs, showcasing the potential for collaborative partnerships that benefit all stakeholders. It was clear the goal is to move beyond mere compliance and instead foster a proactive approach where community needs are integrated into development plans from the very beginning. For Cleveland, ensuring that any public financing, whether it's $250,000 or a larger sum, translates into measurable improvements for its residents is paramount. The panel served as a crucial platform to reinforce the message that Cleveland's taxpayers deserve a direct and meaningful return on every dollar invested in the city's growth, particularly as we work to build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Clevelanders.