The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee announced a diversity contracting policy this week that guarantees the inclusion of minority-owned businesses in convention planning.

“The DNCC has a goal of spending at least one third of its aggregate dollars with Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), Disability-Owned Businesses, LGBT-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses for its contracts and projects.”

Diversity practices already in place have resulted in contracts awarded to such businesses, often in partnership with others.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement: “Our party values economic inclusion and shared prosperity.” Mayor Anthony Foxx, also the committee's co-chairman, added, “Not only will the 2012 Democratic National Convention stand as a model for the inclusion and utilization of diverse businesses, but it will have a lasting impact on this community and the surrounding region for years to come.”

The DNCC diversity policy reads, in part:

“Since its inception, it has been the practice of the DNCC to provide equal opportunity to all business enterprises to participate in all aspects of the DNCC’s contracting and purchasing programs without regard to race, creed, age, sex, national origin, ethnic identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, economic status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis. The DNCC has and will continue to conduct outreach and informational programs with constituent groups, businesses, and trade associations to prevent discrimination against any person or business enterprise on the basis of any of these factors.”

Read the full diversity contracting policy here.

In other convention news:

The DNCC is accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate college students from across the country to serve as summer interns, who will work out of DNCC headquarters in uptown Charlotte. Duties range from assisting senior staffers to attending meetings and events. Internships last from May 28-August 10. Visit this site for an application and details. The deadline to apply is March 30.

Website services vendors have until March 20 to apply to design and host a new convention website. Responsibilities include website design and development and production services, which include website hosting and security. Apply here.

Mary C. Curtis, an award-winning Charlotte, N.C.-based journalist, is a contributor to The Washington Post's “She the People” blog, The Root, NPR and the Nieman Watchdog blog. Her “Keeping It Positive” segment airs Wednesdays at 7:10 a.m. on Fox News Rising Charlotte, and she was national correspondent for Politics Daily. Follow her on Twitter.