Economic Recommendations
Economics
Concern or Issue
MWBE spending by the City is not adequate
MWBE program needs to be strengthened
Commercial capital access for MWBEs needs to be increased
More job opportunities are needed in East Arlington
Need to increase affordability of transportation to get to work
Continued Unity Council effort needed
Unity Council Report
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
Short term
• Create an MWBE Department and develop contracting requirements and accountability for City departments and prime contractors
• Enhance Arlington ’ s “ City Services Satisfaction Surveys ” to include a wider range of important variables such as race / ethnicity , income , and education
Long term
• Increase lending to minority business by connecting MWBEs with banks , encouraging banks to lend more to MWBEs and recruit additional lenders with a track record of lending to MWBEs
Long term
• Establish a job resource center in the East Arlington library , staffed by at least one individual , encourage companies to conduct job fairs in this area
• Conduct job and Arlington Resource Sharing Group fairs in East Arlington on an annual basis
Medium term
• Consider a pilot program that subsidizes Via service for persons with certain income level
Long term
• Maintain the Unity Council , in some form , as a standing committee past delivery of February report .
• Implement an independent MWBE public oversight committee chosen by the City Council members
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