What is the community benefits approach?
Major energy development and infrastructure projects provide significant opportunities, as well as challenges, for local communities. Although they often create new jobs and economic growth, they do not automatically result in sustained, local economic benefits. Increasingly, state and local governments and communities are looking for tools that help build sustained benefits to host communities.
The DOE Office of Minority Business and Economic Development (MBED) supports the nation’s energy goals by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation for diverse communities in the high-growth energy sector and in DOE programs and research opportunities. MBED develops tools and resources to increase diverse participation in the energy economy, drive American innovation, and increase America’s competitiveness.
These materials are intended to provide information to communities and state and local governments on Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) and how to bring them to fruition.
