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Office of Economic Inclusion reports small business participation figures for January–February 2025
Summary
The Office of Economic Inclusion reported January and February contract awards and participation by certified small business categories (DBE/TBE). Office director Lamont Robinson noted the data reflect early‑year service contracts and said staff expect more construction‑related certified participation later in the year.
The Milwaukee County Office of Economic Inclusion briefed the committee on January and February 2025 contract activity and certified small business participation under the county’s Targeted Business Enterprise (TBE) and federally required Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs.
Lamont Robinson, director of the Office of Economic Inclusion, reported that January contract awards totaled roughly $74 million with about $3.6 million deemed eligible for DBE/TBE participation and that certified DBE/TBE firms held approximately $3.3 million (92% of the eligible). For February, he reported about $32 million in contract awards, roughly $5.3 million eligible and approximately $4.5 million held by certified firms (about 85% of eligible), reflecting early‑year service work. Robinson said a large share of early‑year service contracts are with nonprofit providers that are ineligible for DBE/TBE certification, and that the office expects certified firm participation to increase as construction and other procurement activity ramps later in the year.
Why it matters
Regular reporting on DBE/TBE participation helps the county track progress toward goals for contracting with businesses owned by women, people of color and other disadvantaged groups. The office intends to continue monthly reporting and to monitor construction procurements, where certified firms are more widely represented.
Details reported
Robinson presented category breakdowns: January awards included small business enterprise (SBE) firms receiving most of the certified dollars; Hispanic, women‑owned and other categories also received allocations. February figures showed additional allocations across Asian, Black, Hispanic and women‑owned certified firms. Robinson said the office will publish ongoing reports and expects numbers to shift as procurement types change.
