Department of Economic Inclusion Surpasses Six-Month Goals

City sees clear and substantial increase in minority spend

CINCINNATI – It’s been six months since the City of Cincinnati formally enacted its Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program (“M/WBE Program”), and the City is already seeing incredible results.

For contracts subject to the mandatory requirements of the M/WBE Program, the City has approved awards to MBEs and WBEs in excess of $9.1 million since the inception of the program on January first of this year. Of that amount, nearly $5 million has been approved for construction contract awards to MBEs. That $5 million represents approximately 52% of the $9.5 million total construction dollars spent during the entire five-year period reviewed for the City’s recent Disparity Study (2009-2013).

In addition to the contracts governed by Chapter 324 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, the City, working with the development community, has approved another $12 million of MBE and WBE participation in construction contracts not otherwise subject to mandatory inclusion goals. In all, the City has approved awards to certified MBEs and WBEs in an amount totaling more than $21 million in just under six months.

“I am thrilled that our inclusion of African-American and female contractors is improving,” said Mayor John Cranley. “We will be pushing for even more progress to come.”

“I have to give credit to Director Thomas Corey and his staff in the Department of Economic Inclusion,” said City Manager Harry Black. “Thomas and the staff of the Division of Purchasing and various City departments have really worked hard to get minority-owned and women-owned businesses certified and then to create opportunities for those companies to bid on work with the City.”

“I also want to thank Mayor John Cranley and City Council for commissioning the Disparity Study and their continued support in our City-wide effort to enhance competition and better ensure all segments of the population are given an opportunity to compete for public dollars,” the City Manager added.

The City currently has a total of 174 certified MBE, MWBE and WBE firms. MWBE certification is an indication that a firm meets the eligibility requirements both for MBE certification and for WBE certification.  MWBE firms may be utilized to meet either the MBE or the WBE goals on a contract.

“DEI has engaged in a number of outreach efforts to encourage eligible businesses to apply for certification and to help build the capacity of those businesses to perform on City contracts,” said DEI Director Thomas Corey. “To that end, DEI established a Business Training Center offering classes designed to help small, minority and women owned businesses grow and operate more efficiently.”

“We’ve also partnered with ODOT, the Ohio Minority Business Assistance Center and the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce on various summits, conferences and events. The word is out there that the City is serious, and it’s showing.”

As part of its efforts to give small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses a competitive “green” advantage, DEI also offers a sustainability program through which firms can earn an Advanced Sustainability Education Certificate and/or SEMS™ Certification. Ten businesses were recognized at the 2016 Midwest Regional Sustainability Conference as SEMS™-certified businesses, four of which were certified as an MBE, MWBE or WBE.

Fifteen additional businesses, six of which are either currently certified or have certification applications pending, were recognized for their progress toward SEMS™ certification, and one MWBE received a special award as Emerging Sustainable Supplier of the Year for its sustainability impact.

“I’m excited about what’s happening,” said Corey. “This is just a snapshot of how the City is progressing toward reaching its annual MBE and WBE goals. We will use this information to strategize for the coming months.”

For more information on the City’s inclusion program go to www.cincinnati-oh.gov/inclusion