WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (October 15, 2020) – In keeping with West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James’ vision of working to create a ‘Community of Opportunity for All’ in our city, the City of West Palm Beach has exceeded its small business participation goal of 15% established in the City’s policy. According to the City’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) third quarter (2020) report, the total amount of Small Business payments for this quarter is $3,115,609—or 16.3%-- of the total competed dollars expended. Year to date payments to Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) $10,475,811.41—or 19% --of the total competed dollars expended.

Total SBEs, Minority-/Women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs), and Veteran Businesses are as follows: 

• SBEs: 355
• M/WBEs: 91
• Veteran Businesses: 8

The City’s OEO was established by Mayor James upon his swearing-in in April 2019 to ensure fair business practices in the City of West Palm Beach. The OEO is responsible for coordinating and facilitating programs that foster workforce development, business development, and professional education and training. The OEO welcomes small-, minority-, and women-owned businesses to be active participants in the City’s procurement process. The OEO educates and informs all businesses of how to work with the City. The office also tracks the compliance of City departments and Prime Contractors on their inclusivity, diversity and accessibility of procurement solicitation.

“In the City of West Palm Beach, we are working to build equity one step at a time,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “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. I am proud of what we have achieved, and I encourage all business owners to learn more about business opportunities with the City.”

“The City of West Palm Beach welcomes participation from all business enterprises—large and small, new and established, traditional and innovative,” said OEO Director Frank Hayden. “More importantly, we are dedicated to making sure our business partners are a reflection of the diversity and talents of our residential population.”

The OEO sets goals for the participation of small-, minority- and women-owned business enterprises within the City’s procurement system. To meet those goals, the OEO is responsible for:

• Setting standards and goals for City and Prime Contractors’ usage of SBEs, MWBEs, and veteran-owned enterprises for sub-consultant and subcontractor participation in solicitations.
• Educating business owners on the SBE, MWBE and veteran-owned business certification process, so they can be informed of and included in solicitations for City contracts.
• Assisting business owners with the certification process and collaborating with other government agencies to streamline certification requirements.
• Facilitating business relationships between and among Prime Contractors, certified SBEs, MWBEs and veteran-owned enterprises and new business enterprises.
• Tracking payments and performing compliance checks of Prime Contractor usage of SBEs and MWBEs and reporting participation data for state, regional and federal agencies.
• Issuing Sheltered Market surveys and assigning specific solicitations for Sheltered Market participation.
• Establishing and tracking compliance on Sheltered Market opportunities for SBEs.
• Eliminating barriers to equitable contract awards, increasing diversity among City contractors, and increasing the number of certified businesses qualified to bid on City opportunities.

To learn how to do business with the City, click here!

To contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, please call (561) 822-2100 (TTY: 800-955-8771).