Minority/Women Business Enterprise 2020 Annual Report

Eligibility & Participation To participate in the M/WBE Program, a firm must have been deemed underutilized in the City’s most recent Disparity Study. To qualify, business owners must be certified by the NC Department of Administration’s Historically Underutilized Business Office (HUB) or NC Department of Transportation. The Greensboro M/WBE Program Plan also requires a firm certify its business is at least 51 percent owned, managed and controlled by one or more minority group members or a non-minority woman. The business must be headquartered or have a significant business presence for at least one year in the Greensboro relevant marketplace. The M/WBE Coordinating Committee, a volunteer advisory group of local business owners appointed by the City Manager’s Office, monitors the M/ WBE Program accomplishments and offers recommendations for improvements. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the committee met virtually.

2020 Annual Report

MINORITY/WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

About this Report The City of Greensboro’s goal is to provide equal opportunities for all businesses to participate in City contracting and procurement. Greensboro’s Minority/Women Business Enterprise Office is committed to helping minority- and women-owned businesses thrive. In 1986, City Council adopted the M/WBE Program to ensure there were no underlying discriminatory practices occurring in how the City let contracts. Council established aggressive goals to increase how often the City purchases goods and services from minority- and women-owned businesses. The M/WBE Office staff run a wide range of initiatives to help M/WBE business owners in the Greensboro relevant market with bidding opportunities and ensure the City is meeting its inclusion goals. This report provides an overview and updates of the office’s work and data on City spending in 2020. It also highlights success stories from local businesses. About the Program The M/WBE Program Plan covers contracts awarded by or on behalf of the City for construction, construction-related services, professional services, goods, economic development projects, renovation, maintenance, and other services. Contracts that are funded with federal and state dollars fall under policies for the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. The program plan establishes clear City policies against discrimination in business transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation or on the basis of disability or any otherwise unlawful use of characteristics. It also directs staff to create procedures to combat the ongoing effects of marketplace discrimination that adversely affects creation, growth, and competitiveness of small, minority, and women-owned business enterprises. Approximately every five years, the City has a Disparity Study conducted to thoroughly review the program, analyze City practices and market data, and recommend modifications for program changes.

COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dawayne Crite, CriTek Engineering Group Gerry McCants, McCants LLC Juhann Waller, JC Waller and Associates Niveen Kattan Hanna, Atlantic Contracting Company Inc. Rebecca Phillips, Professional Lighting and Supply Sondra Wright, J. W. Wright and Associates Virgil Cobb, Cinda Corporation

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