Philadelphia doing better in encouraging minority participation in city contracts

Minority-owned contractors are winning more projects in Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia Office of Economic Opportunity head Angela Dowd-Burton says the city continues to move forward in providing economic opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

“Excluding federal contracts and contracts with limited opportunity for participation, the city generated 28 percent participation in fiscal year 2012 versus 26.4 percent in 2011,” she said.

At a hearing, Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. asked Dowd-Burton if the city is working to find new minority contractors when there are no minority-run firms available for a given project.

“Is it fair to say that you don’t reach far beyond your registry?” said Goode.

“That’s a dominant part of our decision-making,” Dowd-Burton replied.

Goode said he wants the city to become more actively involved in recruiting minority contractors, especially with the good possibility of another casino coming to Philadelphia.