Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday unveiled an initiative to boost opportunities for New York City's Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise contractors.
The city is partnering with community groups to help MWBEs get certified or re-certified as MWBE contractors and then will work with those firms to help them compete for city contracts.
"This new partnership will ensure that all businesses and firms led by diverse individuals have the chance to compete for city contracts," de Blasio said in a press release. "We know that when all people -- regardless of race, gender or ethnicity -- have the proper resources to reach their full potential, communities across the five boroughs will reap the benefits of their success."
All registered MWBE contractors appear on a list in the NYC Business Directory that city agencies have to use to pick contractors for various services. The city and its partners will coach MWBE firms on how to improve their directory profiles to stand out and be more competitive.
This new program is part of de Blasio's initiative to award 30% of city contract dollars to MWBEs by 2021. It will also help keep the city on track to reach its OneNYC target of awarding $16 billion dollars to MWBEs by 2025.
"Through this new partnership, we are working with partners in each borough to help M/WBEs highlight their services and best compete for city contracts," said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services.
The city is working with community partners, one in each of the five boroughs, to reach local MWBEs through events, workshops and counseling.
"Having hosted several MWBE forums in my district, I have seen firsthand how a one-on-one consultation can help these entrepreneurs become certified, and having a dedicated person for every borough will only help to remove the barriers they currently face" said City Council Member I. Daneek Miller of Queens.
The city will be working in the Bronx with SOBRO; in Brooklyn with the Brooklyn Alliance; in Manhattan with Jean Kristensen Associates; in Queens with the Queens Economic Development Corp.; and in Staten Island with the West Brighton LDC.
"This is government doing its job," said City Council Member Helen Rosenthal of Manhattan. "I look forward to working with SBS on a regular basis, reaching out to the certified minority- and women-owned businesses on the Upper West Side, helping them maximize their competitive edge and encouraging other MWBE's to become certified."
