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City Releases Disparity Study Findings

Mike Foley

Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther has announced the findings from a study conducted by Mason Tillman Associates to determine whether minority and women-owned businesses experience equal access to city contracts. 

  The city commissioned the study in January 2017, and the analysis covered records from 2012 through 2015.

“What Mason Tillman found was that there were disparities for African American businesses, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American businesses in prime contracts,” Ginther said. “The study also reported an underutilization of  women-owned businesses on contracts over $100,000. The study also shows disparities for African American, Asian American, and women-owned businesses for subcontracts.”

Ginther says 15.58 percent of the city’s contracts last year were awarded to minority and women-owned businesses, up from 12 percent in 2017 and 8 percent in 2016. The mayor says that’s better, but not good enough. Office of Diversity and Inclusion interim director Damita Brown says the city will update and simplify various aspects of the process.

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“We all know that as projects get larger, they become out of reach for some of our smaller and minority businesses,” Brown said. “In order for us to create sustainable policy that allows us to grow and develop our minority businesses, we’ll begin to look at those projects so that we can create a path for you to grow in your business, not simply remaining in the role of subcontractor. We’ll also begin to look at some of our vendor registration and contracting processes to ensure we are making it easy and providing you the tools that you need to be successful.”

Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin will host a public hearing about the report tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 at City Hall. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will also host the first of its two public sessions on August 5. The office provides guidance, education, and other resources for minority and women business owners.  

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.