Philadelphia works to increase number of minority contracts

The city of Philadelphia has increased the dollar amount of contracts awarded to minorities and women. However, the percentage of minority participation has remained flat.

The city of Philadelphia has increased the dollar amount of contracts awarded to minorities and women. However, the percentage of minority participation has remained flat.

The 15 million dollar increase in 2010 compared to the previous year, which is being heralded as a milestone by the Nutter Administration, is eight percent more than in 2009. But Angela Dowd Burton, who is Executive Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity says at 19 perent it is still short of their goal.

Burton: “Our goal is 25 percent we want to have an equitable share of contracts awarded to minorities and women as prime contractors as well as subcontractors.”

Burton says the city is working to expand the number of people who qualify for city minority contracts.

Burton: “Within city government we are working collaboratively with the departments to look at the products and services that we buy, there are opportunities we have for unbundling larger contracts to make them smaller or more suitable in size for smaller or intermediate size companies.”

Burton says she is also hoping to have more minority participation in work outside of government.