On April 12, 2007, the Downtown Brooklyn Advisory and Oversight Committee (DBAOC) marked its 20th anniversary with a reception at Borough Hall hosted by Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. For the past two decades, the DBAOC has played a critical role in helping private developers set and achieve voluntary goals of involvement by minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBE) and community participation on local construction projects.

The DBAOC announced its new “Community Built” initiative—a certification program that praises development projects that are built with a significant proportion of M/WBE contracts and local Brooklyn labor. Similar to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, the DBAOC will strive to make the Community Built program a benchmark for all new construction in Downtown Brooklyn and throughout the borough.

“The way Downtown Brooklyn’s growth and success reflects our borough’s unrivaled diversity is a direct result of the DBAOC's hard work and dedication,” said Borough President Markowitz. “For 20 years they have been literally laying the foundation that Brooklyn is built upon, and over the next 20 years they will continue to help create an urban center rivaling any in the world.”

Since its inception, the DBAOC has worked to maximize the participation of minorities, women, and local Brooklyn residents in major construction projects in Downtown Brooklyn, including MetroTech, Atlantic Center, and the Brooklyn Marriott’s expansion. It also helped ensure that Atlantic Yards and One Hanson Place will utilize M/WBE contracts and community assistance.

At the event, elected officials, developers, and construction-industry professionals honored the DBAOC and its chairman, Bill Howell. NYC Comptroller William Thompson, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, City Council Members Letitia James and David Yassky, and Muss Development President Joshua Muss were among those in attendance.