Monroe County's MWBE program certifies 194 businesses

Kevin Oklobzija//February 16, 2023//

Listen to this article

A total of 194 businesses have been recognized by Monroe County’s Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Certification Program, an initiative intended to enable more firms to participate in the contract procurement process.

The program, launched in January of 2022, was a recommendation of the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity (RASE Commission) as a way to reduce bureaucracy in bidding for city and county contracts.

Administered by the county’s Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the program cuts certification time from months to days, allowing firms to more efficiently bid on contracts as prime or sub-contractors.

The county’s MWBE Utilization Program is no longer focused solely on construction contracts. Bidding for professional and non-professional services also are included.

“As our community continues to recover, we want to bring Monroe back better than it was before,” County Executive Adam Bello said in a news release. “That means ensuring all our businesses have the opportunity to successfully and equitably compete.

“Our new MWBE certification program creates a clear path to economic competitiveness and greater access to locally funded contracts and county procurement. These business employ our neighbors and friends, build generational wealth and positively impact quality of life.”

Under Gantt’s Law for Utilization of Minority and Women-Owned Businesses, the county has set goals for 12 percent of contracts to be awarded minority business enterprises and 3 percent to women-owned business enterprises.

A list of MWBE businesses as well as program information can be found on the county’s website.

[email protected]/(585) 653-4020