Report Shows City's Economic Inclusion Numbers Improving

CINCINNATI – Mayor John Cranley and City Manager Harry Black on Tuesday outlined strides made by the City of Cincinnati as it relates to awarding contracts to minority- (MBE) and women-owned (WBE) businesses.

Those details part of the City's 2016 MBE/WBE Utilization Report, which was released just prior to a media event at Duke Energy Convention Center in Downtown. You can watch the full press conference below.

This report examines the progress the City made last year with regard to awarding contracts to MBE and WBE firms. The 7-page document also looks at how newly implemented guidelines and policies have helped enhance City Inclusion efforts. Some of the highlights mentioned in the report include:

• The City awarded nearly a quarter, 24.85 percent, of outside expenditures with MBE/WBE firms
• $36.2 million was awarded to MBE/WBE firms
• The MBE 17.44% award percentage surpassed the program goal
• WBE spending went from about 5% of city contracts to 7.5%
• $8.2 million was awarded to MBE/WBE firms by contractors working on City-sponsored economic development projects in 2016.
• An additional $16.5 million has been committed for award in 2017

The City certified a total of 205 MBE, WMBE and WBE firms in 2016. There were 96 different firms that earned City contracts last year.

City Manager Black likened the success of the program to "almost a miracle." A miracle that benefited from strong support from City leaders and the community.

"This success we are realizing is not possible without the continued steadfast support and leadership provided by the Mayor and City Council who have recognized the need to enhance contracting participation for all those wishing to do business with the City and has provided the essential resources needed to implement the programs," wrote City Manager Black in a memo to the Mayor and City Council.

"This represents a strong foundation for future success. I am certain that with your continued commitment this only represents the beginning in making Cincinnati a city whose diversity in contracting matches its tremendous diversity in population."

The City has worked to overhaul its contracting guidelines and practices since 2015 when a City-commissioned Disparity Study showed a pattern of discrimination related to minority- and women-owned businesses.

The Mayor’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Council (EIAC) played a key role in developing 37 recommendations for improving the City's contracting practices. The City of Cincinnati has implemented many of those recommendations and plans to continue to make progress in years to come.

EIAC co-chair Paul Booth spoke during Tuesday's event, as did Vince Brown (managing partner for BRBS World LLC) and Markiea Carter, who serves as director of the City's Department of Economic Inclusion (DEI).

You can learn more about the City's Inclusion efforts by vising the Department of Economic Inclusion's website.

WATCH: Mayor, City Manager Discuss 2016 MBE/WBE Utilization Report

Inclusion News Conference from CitiCable on Vimeo.