Forth Worth suspends MWBE program, institutes small business program

TX News - Published Oct 07, 2025

The Forth Worth City Council has voted to suspend its minority- and woman-owned business enterprise (MWBE) contracting program, and to institute in its place a new Small Business Development Program. The suspension of the MWBE program comes in the wake of several recent federal executive orders and directives which the City Council considered could place the City's federal funding in jeopardy if the MWBE program remained intact.

The new small business program will put in place a 5 percent bid preference on contracts of up to $100,000, a 30 percent utilization goal for targets above $100,000, and economic incentive goals which will take into account small business inclusion in economic development projects. The new program is also expected to include various workshop, matchmaking, and technical assistance initiatives. The size standards and certifications determining small business eligibility will be those set by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The suspension of the MWBE program was voted through after concerns that the City could possibly lose the roughly $277 million in federal funding it receives if it continued the MWBE program as it was. The new small business program is set to go into effect on September 1, 2025.

Read a press release from the City on the new small business program at https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2025/7/sbdp.