Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 10-29-21

Feature
Focus Of Changes To County’s MBE Program Is To Increase Participation
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
The Hillsborough County De- partment of Economic Develop- ment is undergoing major changes to raise awareness about the Minority Business En- terprise (MBE) while increasing the participation of minorities in the bidding process.
On Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meet- ing, County Commissioner Gwen Myers asked the County Administrator to lead a culture change with all department di- rectors emphasizing importance of MBE SBE.
“I directed staff to provide the BOCC with recommended en- hancements to the County’s MBE Program which would: (1.)
win-win for MBEs, Commis- sioner Myers said.
Lindsay Kimball, Director of Economic Development for Hillsborough County, states that MBE and SBE will now be inde- pendent department divisions within county government. The new divisions will report to the Assistant County Administrator.
In addition, the staff for MBE is doubling from three people to six people to give mi- nority bidders the support they need to be successful.
Kimball states, “the changes reflect the importance of minor- ity businesses and sends a strong message about the im- portance of the MBE.”
Kimball went on to state that the increased visibility stem- ming from the changes will allow for new metrics for the
MBE, including increased com- munity participation.
The public will have the opportunity to attend a free workshop on November 4, 2021.
The workshop titled: Doing Business with Hillsborough County will help minority busi- ness owners learn how to better
access more than $500 million in annual county contracting for goods and services.
The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lesley "Les" Miller, Jr. All People's Community Park and Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33617.
COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS
provide more notices to the MBE community so that they can have more time to plan and prepare for subcontracting op- portunities, and (2.) address contracting opportunities for MBEs when the County is sup- plying funding to a public part- ner so that the BOCC’s MBE objectives are considered.”
“These enhancements are a
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