Major Accomplishments by City’s New Inclusion Program

EIAC recommendations making a difference

CINCINNATI – It’s been just three months since the City of Cincinnati enacted the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program. But the overall success of the new initiative is already showing great promise. Progress continues on implementing the recommendations of Mayor Cranley’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee (EIAC). 

Since January, more than 100 companies in the Cincinnati/Hamilton County area have been certified as minority-owned or women-owned businesses.

The City’s Department of Economic Inclusion (DEI) has its business training center up and running with more than a dozen people taking advantage of its regular classes. DEI also has a reciprocity agreement with the Minority Business Development Division of the Ohio Development Services Agency and is in talks with the Ohio River Valley Women's Business Council to draw up a similar agreement for WBEs.

“I am proud of the work that has been done by my administration, the Economic Inclusion Advisory Council, and the Department of Economic Inclusion to expand opportunity for all and create a more diverse group of companies that receive City contracts,” said Mayor John Cranley. “While we have made progress, there is still much work to do. We remain committed to creating more opportunities for MBE and WBE’s to do business with the City of Cincinnati.”

The recommendation for the program originated in September 2015 with the release of the findings of the Disparity Study. The study – commissioned by the City at the request of Mayor Cranley and City Council and performed by Mason Tillman Associates – found, among other things, a pattern of disparity related to City contracting practices and specifically recommended the adoption of both race and gender-neutral and race and gender-conscious remedies. This prompted City Council to enact C.M.C 324, which authorized the creation of the program.

“The City of Cincinnati is working to ensure everyone in our diverse community is given the opportunity to compete for public dollars,” said City Manager Harry Black. “In the end, this is about economic opportunity and competition. We are providing avenues for businesses that call Cincinnati and Hamilton County home to do business here so they don’t have to look elsewhere.”

Many City departments are helping to push DEI objectives by holding various outreach activities including one-on-one meetings, matchmaker sessions, Fast Track meets and what have been dubbed “Lunch-and-Learn” sessions where entrepreneurs gather over the lunch hour to discuss topics that affect small businesses. In addition, the City has centralized purchasing across the City to create a culture of accountability to Economic Inclusion.

“We have taken the ball and run with it,” said DEI Director Thomas Corey. “The City is bringing a whole new perspective to entrepreneurship for African-American business owners and women business owners. Opportunities are now available and my office is working to make sure MBEs and WBEs take advantage of it.”

Goals for the upcoming year include expanding communication, engaging neighborhoods and expanding collaborations and partnerships so that more people hear and learn about what DEI is doing.

“We are so pleased with the focus and progress made by the City and the Department of Economic Inclusion. During the many meetings held by the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, members often expressed  the need to grow, develop, nurture and provide opportunities to W/MBES as a top priority,” said Consultant, Vincent R. Brown.

For more information on certification with the City of Cincinnati go to http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/inclusion/.  To find out the latest on business opportunities go to http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/purchasing/ and click on Business Opportunities.