Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Commissioner Tony Ortiz of District 2 held a media event on June 5 to educate the community and increase awareness about the city’s recently revised Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification process. The event was hosted by SkyBuilders USA, a minority-owned construction company located in downtown Orlando that received its M/WBE certification in 2009. Since the company’s certification, SkyBuilders USA has participated in numerous contracts tallying more than $5 million, with their most recent project being Stienmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, a 1,700-seat theater set to open in the spring of 2020.
The event began with opening remarks given by M/WBE division manager Janeiro R. Coulter. Followed by Coulter’s introduction of him, Mayor Dyer gave an overview of the changes to the certification process requirements. The previous certification rule stated that Hispanic/Latino business owners were required to provide a minimum of three out of five pieces of documentation. Implemented in November 2017, the new rule requires only one piece of verifying documentation, including a birth certificate, baptism certificate or government-issued identification that proves Hispanic/Latino lineage.
Dyer shared that there are currently 166 Hispanic-owned businesses M/WBE-certified, and the hope is to increase this number through awareness of the program. He also stated that the economic impact of the Hispanic business market in Central Florida exceeds $350 million. Dyer went on to say, “Last year, the City of Orlando awarded over $14 million in contracts to city-certified M/WBE firms, and 32% of that went to Hispanic-certified firms.” According to Luis Martinez, City of Orlando director of multicultural affairs, there are many benefits to becoming M/WBE-certified, including city contracts, participation in procurement outreach events, national and local referrals, access to programs and services designed to help grow business, and a listing on the city’s database.
Commissioner Ortiz followed Mayor Dyer and shared that in an attempt to address the ever-changing needs of the community, these policy changes have been discussed for a long time. While trying to illustrate how small business dominates the economy, Ortiz stated, “Florida is home to 2.5 million small businesses, which makes up for 99.8 [percent] of all business in the state. Because of people like you who come to this country for a second chance, change and better opportunities, 926,000 of those businesses are minority-owned. And of those, 604,000 are Hispanic-owned businesses. That’s quite a big number.”
Ortiz continued, “It is easy to see by these numbers the importance of the Hispanic community and why we embrace diversity here in the City of Orlando. Not only is the City of Orlando a community of diversity, but it is one of opportunity. And that is why I want to encourage you to utilize the services that the city has dedicated to your success.” Ortiz explained that advancement and evolution in government is based on the needs of the people and the trends of society. This policy change is an important step in addressing the importance of minority business needs.
Ortiz announced the city’s partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the offering of free bilingual workshops to help in the process of becoming M/WBE-certified. He went on to declare, “This is a nation where even if you have nothing, but you have determination, perseverance, and you’re willing to sacrifice, you will have a chance.”
In the MBE and Blueprint Division 2017 fiscal year annual report, Coulter boasted, “This division’s ‘Certification Board’ is committed to changing its rules when it helps minority and women-owned businesses more fully participate in contracting opportunities, including both city and private contracts. The results of these changes undertaken by the board stand as a testament to such commitment. To wit, Hispanics no longer have more steps to follow than other minority group members to gain certification. In addition, M/WBEs can now gain city certification for their expanded business lines. Consequently, the board’s changes make for a program that proactively fosters business growth.”
The statistics in the annual report are impressive. In 2017, M/WBE subcontractors were paid $14.1 million, while $6.9 million was paid to M/WBE prime contractors. That’s a total of $21 million paid to M/WBE firms, which breaks down to 39% African-American, 32% Hispanic, 17% Asian and 12% Caucasian. Broken down by industry, 54% of the $14.1 million went to construction, 18% of it went to professional services, and 28% went to the goods and services area.
For more information, visit cityoforlando.mwdbe.com or email mwbe_cert@cityoforlando.net.
