Philadelphia, October 7, 2011– Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that the City exceeded its goal and reached 25.6 percent minority, women and disabled-owned business enterprise (M/W/DSBE) participation rate for fiscal year 2011 (FY2011). The City achieved this rate and awarded a total of $228.6 million to M/W/DSBEs throughout FY2011. This rate is improved from last year’s 23.7 percent participation in FY2010 and from 17.8 percent participation at the end of FY2008.
“I am excited that we have exceeded our goal of at least 25 percent participation for minority, women and disabled-owned businesses,” said Mayor Nutter. “The Office of Economic Opportunity has done a tremendous job of encouraging businesses to join the City’s Registry, and I would like to thank all of our City’s departments for working hard to meet this goal. We are helping to put our city’s businesses to work.”
In February 2010, Mayor Nutter launched Inclusion Works: Economic Opportunity Strategic Plan, which outlines the City’s plan to increase M/W/DSBEs participation and outreach to strategic partners. The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) has been hosting monthly outreach meetings with businesses to summarize contracting opportunities and processes. Additionally, the OEO Registry has increased by over 42 percent to 1,890 companies. The Registry identifies M/W/DSBE businesses and facilitates higher participation rates.
“OEO and the City departments have been working diligently to open the doors for M/W/DSBEs,” said Angela Dowd Burton, Executive Director of the OEO. “On September 1st, OEO launched a six month capacity building program for minority contracts with the plan to track their progress and offer firsthand experience, market information, productive business relationships, and an opportunity to expand and enhance their business capacity.”
Of the $228.6 million awarded to M/W/DSBEs, $152 million was for minority-owned businesses and $76 million to women-owned businesses. To view the Fourth Quarter Report, please visit www.phila.gov/oeo. For additional information on monthly meetings to educate vendors and contractors about opportunities to do business with the City, please visit the OEO website or call 215-683-2057.
