The Nowak Lab is supporting state, local and quasi-governmental entities in analyzing procurement policies, innovative small business capital products, partnerships, and business support services to position procurement and contracting as a process capable of supporting the growth of small and minority-owned businesses and helping close the racial wealth gap. The Lab believes supplier diversity is not only a civil rights issue, but a necessity to facilitate stronger domestic supply chains and economic competition. The Lab has partnered with the Irvine Foundation, the Philadelphia Equity Alliance and the Aspen Institute to support this work.

Nowak Lab Reports

• “A Roadmap for Inclusive Entrepreneurship,” co-written by the Nowak Lab and the National League of Cities, released January 2022
• “An Historic Opportunity: Building Wealth for Historically Underutilized Businesses,” released June 2021

Nowak Lab Projects

• Equity in Infrastructure Project, launched in December 2021 and led by Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington, with Nowak Lab support 
• Philadelphia Equity Alliance & McKinsey research on public sector contracting in Philadelphia, leading to proposal for a Supply Philly intermediary 

Newsletters

On Procurement

• Localizing Federal Procurement
• A Small Business Reading List
• Procurement Lessons from the World’s Biggest Purchaser

• How Federal Infrastructure Spending Can Close the Racial Wealth Gap

   

On Black-Owned Business and Civic Intermediaries

• Can Large Corporations Fuel the Growth of Black-owned Businesses? 
• How States Can Grow Black-owned Businesses
  
• Meet me in St Louis