Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Inclusion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Office of Economic Inclusion reports small‑business participation rates and recent contract awards
Summary
Milwaukee County’s Office of Economic Inclusion reported on March–April 2025 participation by certified Targeted Business Enterprise (TBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms, noting shifts in contract types and award amounts and explaining why year‑to‑year comparisons vary.
The Office of Economic Inclusion briefed the SEED committee on participation by certified small and disadvantaged firms in county contracting for March and April 2025, reporting total contract values and the share awarded to certified firms.
Director Lamont Robinson said that in March the office recorded about $102 million in contracts coming through the office, of which roughly $5 million was eligible for small‑business participation; certified firms received just under 2% of March’s total contract dollars. In April, the office recorded about $57.6 million in contracts, roughly $15 million of which was eligible for DBE/TBE participation; certified firms received roughly $1.5 million in April (10.3% of eligible dollars and 2.7% of total contract dollars). Combined for the two months, certified firms were awarded about $3.3 million.
Robinson explained the year‑over‑year change in participation rates was driven by contract type: 2024’s higher participation was largely driven by construction and professional services contracts, whereas much of 2025 so far has been service contracts (many with nonprofit providers) that reduce opportunities for for‑profit certified firms. Staff said the office anticipates additional large construction procurements later in 2025 that could increase certified‑firm participation.
