Across the country, place-based institutions like hospitals and universities are discovering that their procurement policies can have a huge impact on employment and the local economy:

… local businesses have an opportunity to sell goods and services to a growing industry, provided they have the right stuff and access to the market. UNM is trying to help locals by working with the Washington, D.C.-area Democracy Collaborative to give New Mexico vendors a better shot at the Health Sciences Center’s $1.5 billion business. The Mayor’s Office, Central New Mexico Community College, the Community Foundation and other groups are partners in the effort. Read full article.