Workers and residents advocate for community benefits agreements (CBAs) to secure a seat at the table and ensure public planning, procurement, and development processes guarantee community benefits. CBAs counter systemic harms and inequities and promote more equitable economic development. Jobs to Move America’s (JMA) Jay Mehta Community Benefits Agreement Resource Center developed the social impact model to help labor-community coalitions assess CBA impact and track progress on social justice commitments.
This guide offers a brief overview of community benefits agreements and provides the overarching framework of the social impact model. It defines key principles and utilizes key indicators and metrics to understand and evaluate how CBA provisions affect workers and residents.