By WILL ANDERSON News & Features Editor
University President Ronald J. Daniels and Ronald R. Peterson, president of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, announced Wednesday the launch of HopkinsLocal, a Hopkins initiative to use its economic power and influence in Baltimore to increase citywide employment and support Baltimore residents.
HopkinsLocal, run jointly by the University and the Health System, aims to support the disadvantaged and low-income residents of Baltimore.
“At Johns Hopkins we take seriously our role as an anchor institution in Baltimore,” Daniels said, “and we hear loud and clear from our neighbors that what is needed most are the stable jobs that form the bedrock of safe and healthy communities.”
The initiative has three approaches: build, hire and buy.
One of the “hire” goals is to fill 40 percent of targeted vacant positions at Hopkins with members of Baltimore’s most disadvantaged communities by 2018.
With the goal of patronizing Baltimore businesses, Hopkins will purchase $6 million worth of products from local businesses, especially those run by women and minorities, within three years. They also have plans to work with 24 non-local suppliers to hire and invest in local businesses and employees.
Hopkins has no plans to stop its expansion in the city, and HopkinsLocal promises $20 million will be made available to support local design and construction work for Hopkins projects in Baltimore. The recently completed Malone Hall was designed and built with the work of over 20 percent minority and women-run businesses.
The ultimate goal of the program is to “Build. Hire. Buy.” in order to support the Baltimore community. The University and Health System hope to build up the community with job opportunities and locally-designed and built construction projects. Hiring local employees and business is a cornerstone of the plan, along with patronizing as many local, minority and women-run businesses as possible.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.