Semiannual MWBE report: district reached 14.11% combined MWBE spending but certified participation lags at 3.29%

At the Sept. 18 finance committee meeting, procurement and finance staff presented the district’s semiannual minority and women‑owned business enterprise (MWBE) report for Jan. 1–June 30, 2025. The report showed $147,450,050 in controllable budget for the period, with $20,799,587.30 in total spending with MWBEs — a combined usage rate of 14.11. Staff split that total into certified and non‑certified categories: certified MWBEs accounted for $4,844,275.59 (3.29%) while non‑certified minority/women vendors accounted for $15,955,311.71 (10.82%).

Procurement staff said the certified total is limited by state certification rules: only businesses certified in South Carolina appear in state‑verified counts; many smaller or out‑of‑state vendors work with the district but are not South Carolina‑certified. Staff and board members discussed barriers to certification — cost, audited financials and perceived complexity — and described outreach efforts such as vendor conferences, advertisements and contractor engagement to encourage certification.

Members asked for more demographic breakdowns (race, gender) and stronger vetting of prime contractors’ subcontractors. Procurement staff said primes must submit subcontractor lists and that the district performs spot checks; staff committed to further vendor education and working with partners who assist minority businesses with certification. A board member suggested inviting state MWBE staff or the state ethics/MBE designee to provide additional guidance to local businesses.

No formal policy changes were proposed at the meeting; staff said they would continue outreach, provide more detailed breakdowns where available, and coordinate with operations and contractor partners to improve certified participation.