The University announced on April 4 its participation alongside 24 other Baltimore-area businesses in BLocal, a sweeping economic inclusion initiative to invest in Baltimore’s local economy.
The new initiative, co-led by University President Ronald J. Daniels, aims to invest at least $69 million into fueling Baltimore’s economy over the next three years. BLocal companies are expected to pour an initial $53 million into investment in renovation and construction projects, and another $16 million for purchases from businesses owned by women, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
“President Daniels has often said that the University’s commitment to Baltimore is based on a simple idea: the health and well-being of the University are inextricably tied to the physical, social and economic well-being of the city,” a spokesperson for the University said. “BLocal is an extension of this commitment. The University has often expressed its commitment to Baltimore, and our recognition that Johns Hopkins prospers when our city thrives. When our institution thrives, our students, faculty and staff thrive. This is especially true of our undergraduate students who benefit from the many activities and events the city has to offer.”
Through BLocal, which multiples the HopkinsLocal program, the University hopes to provide an interconnected feedback loop between the institution and its local Baltimore area.
“HopkinsLocal is our comprehensive approach to leverage Johns Hopkins’ economic power to do more to build, buy and hire locally,” Daniels said. “Building on that promise, BLocal aims to help bolster a local economy, not on a project-by-project basis, but through a collective, deep-seated change approach.”
Launched in Sept. 2015, HopkinsLocal is a commitment by the University to leverage its role as the largest employer in Baltimore to create lasting economic opportunities in the city.
“With this initiative Johns Hopkins will expand its outreach to local businesses and residents, including women and minorities, when it builds, hires, and buys,” the HopkinsLocal website states. “It makes a firm commitment to expand participation of local and minority-owned businesses in construction opportunities; increase the hiring of city residents, with a focus on neighborhoods in need of job opportunities; and enhance economic growth, employment, and investment in Baltimore through purchasing activities. The initiative will also support ongoing efforts to build diversity in Johns Hopkins’ workforce and among our business partners.
Along with Daniels, Ronald R. Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, and Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer of Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) are leading BLocal.
"People wanted to be a part of this," Daniels said to The Baltimore Sun. "We hope to start something that we find in 10 years' time really had a marked influence."
Business leaders discussed their companies’ contributions to the initiative.
“BGE’s roots in Baltimore go back 200 years and we are committed to the city’s stability, economic vitality and community spirit,” Butler said. “Our commitment is made stronger by joining with others who care deeply for Baltimore to share knowledge and help direct resources where they make the biggest difference. BLocal gives us a platform to make important and meaningful connections.”
The 24 companies that will join Hopkins in this project include the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, A&R Development, Brown Advisory and Under Armour.
“Growing economic opportunities for everyone, especially those for whom race and class has long been a barrier for progress, is key to the success of our city,” Michael Cryor, chair of OneBaltimore, said. “The commitments being made by BLocal are impressive, and we look forward to working together to lift the barrier and generate those success stories.”
The University praised students’ service to Baltimore and further hopes that the BLocal initiative could potentially encourage students to play an even larger role in supporting the Baltimore community.
“The Homewood students demonstrate this commitment in the nearly 100,000 of community service hours every year,” the University spokesperson said. “Over the last year, from helping the police department improve its incident command to efforts to reduce violence in the city to reducing food deserts to Baltimore City high school students to experience hands-on biomedical research in a state-of-the-art research facility at Hopkins, we are tackling the systemic issues in our city from multiple angles.”
Mike Hankin, president and CEO of Brown Advisory, and a group of Hopkins trustees initially inspired the initial impetus for BLocal.
“As Mike reached out to other Hopkins Trustees leading major companies in Baltimore, it quickly became apparent that many businesses in the city are committed to expanding opportunities and looking for ways to provide an even stronger economic engine for the people of Baltimore,” Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, said.
This initial investment fund is expected to grow, as more BLocal partners determine exactly how much they plan to invest in the initiative, and in what areas.
“I applaud the leadership of Johns Hopkins and the companies who have committed to the BLocal initiative,” U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) said. “This innovative partnership will help rebuild Baltimore by providing real economic opportunity to our residents.”
