Case Study Spotlight: Economic Prosperity, Equity, and Sustainability through Procurement Policies

The County of San Diego (County) is committed to building a more inclusive and resilient regional economy, especially through supporting the prosperity of small businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. This is achieved through a variety of programs and services, and by leveraging more than $2 billion in annual purchasing power. In April 2024, the County initiated a year-long exploration to enhance local business participation in County procurements and simplify procurement procedures, which will reduce negative ecological impacts and increase opportunities for small, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses as well as Social Equity Enterprises. The County implemented a phased engagement strategy that reached nearly 400 organizations and involved more than 1,500 touchpoints overall with County staff across departments. Input gathered from these business owners, nonprofits, and community leaders informed a suite of policy and program updates that were approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in August 2025 (effective September 2025). This multifaceted approach strengthened the County’s role in supporting local economic development, promoting sustainability, and increasing equity and access in county procurement and contracting. Click here to read the full case study.*

The County of San Diego case study was submitted to the SPLC Leadership Awards program, and was awarded the 2025 SPLC Leadership Award for Supplier Engagement. Visit the SPLC website for more information on the Leadership Awards Program.

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