City of West Palm Beach exceeds small business participation goals

FL News - Published Oct 22, 2020

The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) for the City of West Palm Beach set a small business (SBE) participation goal of 15 percent after being established in April of 2019 by Mayor Keith A. James. The OEO's third quarter report for 2020 notes that the city has exceeded that goal both for the third quarter itself and for the year to date.

The specific figure reached during the third quarter was $3,115,609 spent with SBEs, or 16.3 percent of the total contract dollars expended by the City during that period. For the year to date, the figure was $10,475,811.41, or 19 percent of total contract dollars.

The OEO maintains an MWBE program and a veteran-owned business program in addition to the SBE program, and sets goals for utilizing those businesses as well.

"It's important for all residents - inclusive of gender, cultural background and abilities - to have equitable opportunities to do business with the City and to earn a competitive wage," said Mayor James in a statement.

Read the press release from the City at https://www.wpb.org/Home/Components/News/News/929/16.