The city of Cincinnati has a new memo outlining changes to the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Program aimed at improving and eliminating administrative barriers in order to increase access to contracting opportunities for women-owned businesses.

The memorandum is based on a new agreement between the City of Cincinnati and the Ohio Department of Development that creates certification reciprocity between the City and State for Women Business Enterprises (WBEs). Businesses that have been certified by the State or the City may now apply for certification through an expedited process with either entity, eliminating redundant processes.

The City of Cincinnati wants to encourage the private sector to participate in City procurement by encouraging the participation of more women-owned businesses in government contracting. The WBE Program also connects eligible businesses with financing, including state-funded business loans and micro financing programs that assist small businesses.

The improved methodology is consistent with the federal and other regulatory guides that govern how government entities administer. It also reflects the increasing emphasis across the nation on transparency and on how the public interacts with public contracting programs.

As a result of the disparity analysis, community engagement events have reviewed the levels of participation of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in municipal projects. In conjunction with this outreach effort is the creation of a plan to accommodate increased social infrastructure development, particularly due to the multi-year federal investment in the region for transportation, such as the City of Cincinnati’s bridges.