Economic Disparities Recommendations | 2021 Report
Concern or Issue
MWBE spending by the City is inadequate.
Recommendation
Long term
• Implement data collection.
• Create an Office of Business Diversity.
• Reduce barriers of communication with MWBEs.
• Find solutions to reducing barriers to MWBEs being prime contractors.
MWBE program needs to be strengthened.
Short term
• Create an MWBE Department and develop contracting requirements and accountability for City departments and prime contractors.
• Enhance Arlington’ s Citizen Satisfaction Survey to include a wider range of important variables such as race / ethnicity, income and education.
Commercial capital access for MWBEs needs to be increased.
Long term
• Increase lending to minority businesses by connecting MWBEs with banks, encouraging banks to lend more to MWBEs and recruit additional lenders with a track record of lending to MWBEs.
Unity Council Report 2023 73