MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS (MWBE)

The acronym MWBE stands for minority- and women-owned business enterprises. While the exact MWBE definition and eligibility requirements differ per state, MWBE certification can help boost a minority- or women-owned company’s visibility and eligibility to work with government contractors or certain agencies. In this section, we have collected stories about how cities are choosing to spend their money with certified MWBE companies. When cities shift contracting dollars to businesses that historically have been left out of these opportunities, the value extends beyond the dollar amount on the paperwork. They’re supporting closing the racial wealth gap. 

For more on MWBE status as a solution to level the economic playing field, we’ve covered “The Power of Procurement” in an easy-to-share ebook. Plus, our in-depth series of related webinars included “Culture and Process: Doing Business Where Government Has Never Done Business Before,” “Procurement & the Pandemic: Helping Cities Do Business With Minority-Owned Businesses,” “Procurement Equity Amid Hostile Politics: Accounting for Race When You Can’t Account for Race.”