A Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) results from an infrastructure or other development project. It’s a formal legal contract between the organizing organization (like a government entity), the company or companies responsible for the project and a neighbourhood organization(s) to create additional community benefits as part of the project. Practices such as local skills training, local hiring, and purchasing from local businesses like equipment, food, security, and office supplies. Additionally, the neighbourhood organization can request additional investment like incorporating public space, public art, and facilities into the development.
These investments can increase opportunities, reduce poverty, and improve environmental sustainability all while improving the local economy. Communities that have built human, social, physical, cultural, and economic capital are healthier and have numerous benefits for the individuals residing in the community and the larger society.
The Toronto Community Benefits Network has developed a resource to explain what CBA’s are:
https://www.communitybenefits.ca/what_is_community_benefits_agreementorcba