Employment and Contracting Opportunities Through the Revenue Bond Program In addition to providing low-cost financing, the District offers free employment and contracting assistance through the Department of Employment Services. Each borrower signs an agreement called a First Source Agreement with the Department of Employment Services, agreeing to advertise their job vacancies with the DOES before they advertise publicly. Within one week, DOES supplies a list of qualified applicants, which borrowers are free to interview and hire as they wish. In further efforts to spread the benefits of revenue bonds to the many qualified small businesses throughout the city, Revenue Bond clients are required to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the District's Department of Small and Local Business Development. This MOU simply states that the borrower understands that the District encourages them to use Certified Local Small and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (LSDBE's) to fill at least 35% of their contracts. Agreements are not binding, but they have been successful. The Department of Employment Services reported that over 1,070 jobs were generated during FY1999 through First Source Employment Agreements of Revenue Bond Program clients. Between FY1995-FY1999, over 4,500 jobs have been created through Revenue Bond Program clients. The Department of Small and Local Business Development reported that during FY1999, Revenue Bond clients committed to issuing $94,581,794 of contracts for goods and services with LSDBE's over the lives of their projects. During FY1999, clients awarded $33,597,283 in contracts to LSDBE's.