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Dear Equity Ally,
We are excited to share an important milestone in the County’s commitment to building a local economy that works for everyone. On July 1, the County began implementing the Local, Local Small, and Local Micro Business Preference Ordinance—a key step towards the realization of the Anchor Institution Framework. This framework adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2022, recognizes the County’s role as a major local employer, purchaser, and community partner, and aims to leverage the County’s operations (procurement, workforce, and investments) to strengthen the economic well-being of the residents and businesses with the greatest need, so everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential in San Mateo County.
The Local, Local Small, and Local Micro Business Preference Ordinance is a preference applied to local, local small, and local micro vendors during the evaluation of their applications to solicitations of $10,000 and above. By prioritizing our local entrepreneurs, we are keeping more dollars circulating in our community, supporting local jobs, and helping historically underrepresented business owners have a fair chance to access County contracts. This change is not just about procurement—it’s about fostering shared prosperity and ensuring that local and small entrepreneurs have the opportunity to benefit from our County’s growth.
To learn more about how to do business with the County, we are inviting local vendors to the County’s first Vendor Fair on September 17 from 10 am to 3 pm. Register here. There will be technical support available for local vendors interested in becoming certified as a small business. Please click here to subscribe to the County’s eProcurement platform.
While procurement is an essential piece of the anchor institution framework, we are also advancing impactful workforce strategies that will enable local job seekers with barriers to employment to access career jobs in the public sector. We have partnered with NOVAworks and the County’s Human Resources Department to pilot two career pipelines. We will share more details about this effort in future newsletters. Stay tuned!
Together, we can make San Mateo County a place where every resident and business has a fair chance to thrive.
In solidarity,
The Office of Racial and Social Justice
Michelle Flores Pulido, Labor Standards Associate
Andrew Knaack, Equity and Belonging Associate
Shireen Malekafzali Taidi, Chief Equity Officer
Shane Ross, Labor Standards Manager
Caline Salame, Equity and Belonging Associate
Belén Seara, Equity and Belonging Manager
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San Mateo County Youth Climate Ambassador Leadership Program is currently accepting applications. The program is aimed at high school students in grades 9 through 12 who are interested in climate change and taking local action.
Apply today if you or your student is interested in:
- Building leadership skills
- Taking action to address climate change
- Connecting with peers who have similar interests
- Implementing a Community Impact Project
- Learning more about the climate crisis and local solutions
- Joining a network of fellow high school students ready to take action together
- Getting paid a stipend to complete this amazing program
Learn more about the program and apply online at the link below.
All applications are due before 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1.
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Check out the new County of San Mateo podcast hosted by County Executive Mike Callagy. Mike and his guests explore the inner workings of our county government and the things that make living here so rewarding. In this first episode, Mike sits down with San Mateo County Parks Director Nicholas Calderon to talk about the wide range of activities and experiences visitors enjoy in our parks.
In our last Community Bulletin, we were excited to share the soft launch of the Office of Labor and Standards Enforcement (OLSE). Since then, the County has announced a public launch. Click here to learn more about the history, charge, and resources of this new County Office.
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 Cultura Fest
Free to attend, Cultura Fest is a vibrant celebration of culture, identity, and creative expression. While many Salvadorans in the U.S. have blended into broader Latino communities, the need for a space that truly reflects our heritage still remains.
Cultura Fest fills that gap—bringing people together through music, art, and food. It shines a spotlight on Salvadoran and Latin American artists, chefs, and performers, honoring our shared journey of resilience and creativity.
Date:Saturday, August 23, 2025
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: 400 Grand Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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A moment of centering: The term inclusion is used to describe the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity -- in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (e.g. intellectual, social, cultural, geographic) with which individuals might connect.. source: George Washington University
Have feedback? We would appreciate feedback about what information you most want to hear from us. For feedback, please email us at equitysmc@smcgov.org.
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