Small businesses aren’t just part of New Haven’s economy — they are the economy.
Buying local means investing in equity, creativity, and resilience. It’s how we ensure New Haven’s economy reflects the richness of its people — and how every organization, from anchor institutions to small businesses, can play a role in shaping a thriving, inclusive city.
BUY NEW HAVEN: A Guide to Supporting Small, Local Contractors
BUY NEW HAVEN: A Guide to Supporting Small, Local Contractors provides practical strategies for incorporating small, local contractors into development projects, along with resources to help you get started—including directories, definitions, and guidance on practices such as unbundling scopes of work and establishing a well-documented good-faith outreach process. Instead of prescribing a single approach, this guide offer tools that developers, construction managers, and project teams can use to strengthen local participation in practical and impactful ways.
Inside, you’ll find real examples and insights from New Haven organizations that are committed to advancing inclusive economic growth in our community. It is especially useful for those seeking practical strategies to engage small, local, minority-, and women-owned contractors in development projects. Whether you are new to local procurement or looking to strengthen your organization’s impact, this guide provides actionable tools, resources, and best practices to help you make local participation central to your project approach.
By using this guide, businesses can transform procurement into a powerful act of support—celebrating local talent, reducing barriers, and contributing to a more vibrant, equitable New Haven.