Columbus City Council approves new Diversity and Inclusion Code

OH News - Published Aug 02, 2021

Columbus City Council recently approved legislation establishing a new Diversity and Inclusion Code (replacing previous legislation around inclusion of minority- and woman-owned businesses, or MWBEs). The new Code follows on the heels of a 2019 disparity study which found significant MWBE under-utilization in public procurement.

The provisions for the benefit of MWBEs in the new legislation include: a sheltered market program for small and local businesses; establishing a new Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) which is given the power to track and report business utilization across City departments; new mentor-protege programs for MWBEs; bonding assistance, bonding waivers for certain projects for MWBEs, and unbundling; new prompt payment provisions for the benefit of MWBE subcontractors; and more.

Read the legislation at https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5034204&GUID=B0EECB54-13DA-489C-AC50-4D79C7C9B835&Options=ID%7CText%7C&FullText=1.