According to a 2019 study, there is a notable disparity for minority- and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) who are awarded prime and subcontracts in Columbus, OH. The Columbus City Council will be implementing a plan to address this disparity in the awarding of city contracts. 

The Columbus city council is set to vote on recommendations to introduce its Increase Diversity Program in an effort to close the gap in the city’s contracting procedures and increase participation and contracting of small, minority- and women-owned businesses. Council President Shannon Hardin is determined to close the gap and implement the program in January 2022. The new program will set participation goals for M/WBEs, which have not been implemented since the 1990s. Although the city has maintained a gender/race-neutral program, goals were never a part of it. 

A continued commitment to reduce disparities in contracting and a continued effort in minority business development is expected to make a large impact and ensure inclusion of M/WBEs. The City Council is looking for prime companies to mentor small minority- and women-owned businesses in order to increase access to capital, training, and technical assistance that will lead to increasing their chances of winning city contracts.