Since our inception, The Collaborative has advocated for changes in city policies that improve the utilization and viability of DBE businesses that does business with the City of New Orleans. Our direct efforts have resulted in the following success stories:

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June 2013 - Ordinance No. 25369, a law strengthening the City's program for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) which was passed unanimously by the City Council. Among other things, this law resulted in:

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• An overall 35% DBE participation rate applied to all City contracts.​​

• The establishment of robust good-faith effort requirements and penalties for Prime Contractor non-compliance.​

• Full funding of the City's Office of Supplier Diversity

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November 2014 - More than 60% of Orleans Parish voters approved an amendment to the Home Rule Charter that would require the executive branch to maintain a DBE program.

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April 2015 - Ordinance Calendar No. 30497, which specified stronger DBE reporting requirements by City agencies, boards, and commissions as part of the annual budget process. It was passed unanimously by the New Orleans City Council.

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January 2021 - City Council votes unanimously to update and refine DBE provisions in Chapter 70, Article IV, Division 2 of the Code of the City of New Orleans. Highlights of the ordinance include:

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• The consolidation of all DBE initiatives under the Equitable Business Opportunity (EBO) Program directed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of New Orleans.

• ​The establishment of a 35% DBE goal for EACH City department, agency, board, commission, and City-established corporation, replacing the overall 35% goal. This includes annual reporting of DBE goals and attainment by each entity.

• ​The clarification and strengthening of remedies for vendor non-compliance in DBE hiring to explicitly include suspension, liquidated damages, and termination of any and all contracts with the City.