The City of Birmingham’s new initiative known as the Valuing Inclusion to Accelerate and Lift (or VITAL) has released its first report on local government diversity spending.

Between July 1st, 2019 and June 30th, 2020 the report observes that 10 percent of total city spending went to women- and minority-owned businesses (M/WBEs) which in total represented $24.3 million in contracts. 

Overall, four percent of city spending went to WBEs and four percent went to MBEs. Another two percent went to businesses that are both MBEs and WBEs (MWBEs)

A series of planned actions have been outlined by city planners, showing how Birmingham will seek to expand M/WBE participation:

• Create a better vendor registration process while encouraging minority- and women-owned businesses to register as a vendor in the city. They can register here
• Form a database of minority- and women-owned and other disadvantaged businesses that will help local authorities, vendors, and institutions serving th city. 
• Create more consistency in procurement across the city’s agencies.
• Actively seek out minority and women owned firms for city contracts. 
• Work on ways to fortify small businesses in the city.
• Publish and distribute an annual Opportunity Guide that forecasts anticipated purchases which will be useful for vendors.

For more on Birmingham’s M/WBE program visit the city's VITAL program website.