Community Benefits Agreement - CBA Coalitions

CBA Coalitions

At the heart of the community benefits strategy is community organizing and coalition building,. Organizing and maintaining a coalition, facilitating compromise and crafting a shared agenda is essential to creating a successful CBA. Coalitions can include a variety of community groups, such as neighborhood groups, environmental organizations, good government organizations, labor unions, and faith-based organizations. Coalitions are usually unincorporated, but member community groups may enter into an operating agreement to govern their relationship in the coalition. A model CBA Coalition Operating Agreement has been created by the Public Law Center at Tulane Law School.

Elected officials or government agencies often play an active role in CBA negotiations. In California and other jurisdictions where development agreements are authorized, government representatives may be formal CBA signatories. In other cases, government officials may play a more informal role by facilitating CBA negotiations and encouraging cooperation.