Cleveland, Ohio – Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish has submitted legislation to County Council in response to the County’s Disparity Study.

In 2013, Cuyahoga County contracted with two firms to collect and analyze statistical and anecdotal data in order to determine whether or not disparity exists within the County procurement policies and systems. The County recently released the findings from the Study which revealed that there is disparity between the number of available Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MBE/WBEs) and the number of those firms that have been awarded contracts from the County.

“One of our top priorities is Fairness and Equity and we recognize the need to take robust action to ensure that there is an inclusive process where everyone can have an opportunity to do business with the County,” said Budish. “We believe that small businesses and minority and women owned businesses, should have a fair shot at competing for County business, and that our workforce should be diverse.”

“The proposed legislative reforms and administrative actions are a step in the right direction. I commend County Executive Budish and members of the County Council for their actions to help ensure full participation of women and minority-owned enterprises in the economic growth of our region,” said Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11).

While the results from the Disparity Study do not provide a legal basis for specific quotas, the Budish Administration is submitting the following legislation to council:

• An expansion of the County’s current SBE program to set aspirational Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise subcontractor participation goals for every bid or proposal issued by the County; and requiring good faith efforts to meet said goals. MBE/WBEs bidding as prime contractors can also get participation credit.
• Elimination of the need for performance bonds for qualified contractors for jobs under $250,000, and segmenting bigger projects into smaller projects.
• The establishment of Small Business Set Asides for certain projects.
• Allowing companies with a demonstrated commitment to utilizing MBE/WBEs as subcontractors and/or a diverse workforce within the past 2 years to receive a bid preference.
• Adopting a Council Resolution authorizing the County Executive to sign on to the Cleveland Community Benefits Agreement.

In addition, Executive Budish will adopt the following administrative actions:

• Releasing an executive order requiring speedy pay from a Prime Contractor to their Sub-contractors.
• Utilizing pre-bid conferences to encourage broader participation.
• Appointing an Inclusion Officer to monitor, track and enforce these initiatives.

“What the County Executive and Council are proposing here will make a difference in the lives of many of our small/minority and female owned businesses,” said Lonnie Coleman, President, Coleman Spohn Corporation. “I truly appreciate the efforts to make our County better for all of its citizens.”

“I am pleased with the direction that the County Executive and his Administration are heading in respect to these changes,” said Eddie Taylor, President, Taylor Oswald, and Co-Chair of the Commission on Economic Inclusion. “They are positive ones for our community and I believe that with participation from our business community and with appropriate enforcement that this legislation can create real change for minority and women-owned enterprises.”