Realizing the purchasing power of anchor institutions to support local businesses and in turn create jobs is the focus of this new report, Authored by Karp Resources, the report explores food procurement processes in anchor institutions, and identifies a range of strategies to more fully realize local purchasing power. The report recommends actions to support local minority-owned and small businesses, modifications to procurement processes, and outlines legislative opportunities to connect purchasing power to businesses in reinvestment areas. Many of the recommendations are applicable not...

Over 2 million people have been affected and over 200,000 people died as a result of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. 188,383 houses have been damaged or destroyed. Over 1.5 million displaced people living in 1,241 settlement sites. There are 4,758 schools that have been damaged or destroyed.* 

The scale of destruction and need has resulted in quick and significant contributions pouring in to support relief efforts. The overwhelming success of the Text Haiti Campaign by the American Red Cross, which encourages people to donate $10 by texting "HAITI" through their cell phone,...