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 .
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