New city initiative will boost women and minority-owned businesses in St. Pete

As the City of St. Pete continues to develop programs supporting equity in our community, a new initiative approved by City Council will take massive steps toward supporting minority and women-owned businesses in the Burg. Today, Council approved the adoption of a new Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program, an undertaking that will ensure equitable distribution of city contracts in the years to come. Learn more and sign up for the business newsletter here.

The move comes at an important time in St. Pete, with the city experiencing unprecedented growth, and thus, an unprecedented need to do business with private companies. As St. Pete awards millions of dollars in contracts annually, the Office of Supplier Diversity will work with the City to create participation percentage goals for contracts utilizing minority-owned business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises, providing more opportunities for St. Pete’s diverse business community.

This latest step is just one of many initiatives that have developed as a result of the Disparity Study the City sanctioned in 2021, an effort to provide fact-based support for the creation of equitable opportunities for all members of St. Pete’s contracting community. That study found a particular disparity between the contracts awarded to non-minority male-owned businesses, and those owned by women or minorities.

“The City’s new Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program will help businesses that are seeking more ways to prosper and thrive in a competitive business market,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “With Equitable Business Opportunities as one of my administration’s Pillars for Progress, our goal is to remove barriers and provide a level playing field so all businesses have a chance at success.”

Thanks to the establishment of this new program, women-owned and minority-owned businesses will soon be able to apply for MWBE Program certification with the City of St. Petersburg. Interested parties are encouraged to register with the Office of Supplier Diversity to receive alerts for program updates and application availability at stpete.org/OSD.

The Office of Supplier Diversity was created to promote fair and equal business opportunities through the intentional implementation of diversity programs to ensure equity in contracts and procurement for all members of our community who want to do business with the City of St. Pete. The office also operates the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program, which fosters growth in the economy and provides opportunities for participation in City construction projects and the procurement of goods and services. The SBE Program gives smaller businesses a chance to gain exposure to large-scale projects and experience working alongside big firms. The 3-year certification is free with required training, covers a 5-county area, and is race and gender-neutral.

Learn more about the MWBE Program at stpete.org/OSD.