The Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program (MWBE) was suspended earlier this year due to federal law. The program provided opportunities for these businesses a fair chance to capitalize on city contracts.

In an email, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce shared a brief overview of what was discussed in a recent town hall about the transition from race-based to race-neutral small business programs and what it could mean for our community.

Goals of the Program Pivot:

• Maintain public trust and transparency
• Continue supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, even if MWBE is paused
• Reduce economic harm to affected firms
• Ensure legal readiness for any future program redesign

Key Elements Discussed:

• Program Redesign: New name and framework with race-neutral criteria
• Eligibility: Business size, location, owner net worth, years in business
• Participation: Limits on contracts and time in the program
• Target Market: “Sheltered market” opportunities for smaller firms
• Qualification Points: Extra points for certifications

Ways to Maintain Support:

• Inclusive small business programs prioritizing outreach to former MWBEs
• Voluntary supplier diversity goals for prime contractors
• Mentor-protégé partnerships and joint ventures
• Unbundling projects and offering more on-call contracts
• Business resources, training, and low-interest loans or grants
• Connections to other certifications (WBENC, NMSDC, SBA)

Transparency Commitments:

• Clear public statements explaining changes
• Town halls and info sessions
• Dedicated webpage and hotline for updates and FAQs
• Publishing data on small business participation

Future Redesign Options:

• Socioeconomic or size-based preferences
• Geographic targeting in disadvantaged areas
• A task force with MWBE leaders, legal experts, and economists
• Partnerships with corporations and nonprofits to support diverse businesses

Additional Suggestions Raised:

• Set ambitious small business goals (e.g., 50%)
• Require primes to do site visits and report on impact
• Notify all subs listed on projects before contracts are finalized
• Strict compliance on Letters of Intent and local verification
• Create success metrics and graduation requirements
• Develop a Small Business Resource Center for training and support

These programs are intended to help businesses grow, win contracts, and get paid, not to create barriers.

No timeline has been set yet, but the City of Orlando is actively working on developing the new program. We will continue to advocate for policies that open doors for Black-owned and minority-owned businesses across Central Florida.

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