Baton Rouge, La. – June 1, 2020 – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced Monday the success of the Baton Rouge Procurement Opportunity Partnership initiative (BRPOP) in the program’s inaugural year. The initiative is a public-private partnership designed to assist the development and growth of Baton Rouge veteran-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned small businesses.

Since the program’s launch on May 2, 2019, it has facilitated more than 46 contract awards and purchase orders with small businesses, representing more than $5 million in value by BRPOP partners.

"We are thrilled at the progress shown by BRPOP over the last year. Even during the coronavirus pandemic, our partners have stepped up to ensure our veteran, women, and minority-owned small businesses have a seat at the table,” said Mayor Broome. “This speaks volumes to the resiliency of our procurement partnership. I look forward to continued collaboration as we move into our initiative’s second year.”

BRPOP shares upcoming contract opportunities with small businesses, thereby promoting supplier diversity and equity within various industries.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has been honored to be a part of the Baton Rouge Procurement Opportunity Partnership since it began. We joined because of our dedication to our Supplier Diversity Program and our commitment to this great city, and our belief that this type of public-private partnership helps advance the city’s goal of achieving greatness in fairness,” said Anselmo R. Rodriguez, Blue Cross manager of Supply Chain Management.

The initiative works with its partners to increase business ownership in underinvested communities, and to prepare businesses to compete for contracts.

“This effort has shown significant progress and promise in its first year,” said Eric Dexter, Director of Business Development at Civil Solutions Consulting Group, and chair of BRAC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “Now, with the additional challenges small and disadvantaged businesses are confronting because of COVID-19, we hope for not only our BRPOP partners, but for all companies in the region to be more intentional about offering equitable opportunities for diverse suppliers.”

"The Baton Rouge Procurement Opportunity Partnership is an example of the impact when the public, private and nonprofit sectors collaborate around a shared vision. I am thankful to Mayor Broome for her leadership and continued support of our efforts,” said Raymond Jetson, Chief Executive Catalyst of MetroMorphosis.

The success of the program is the result of the partnership of Mayor Broome, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Baton Rouge General, Coca-Cola, East Baton Rouge Housing Authority, East Baton Rouge Parish School System Fair Share, Entergy, ExxonMobil, Jacobs, Louisiana State University, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Methanex, MetroMorphosis, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Southern University and Turner Industries.