“Today is a great day for our city because today we strengthened the City’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program.

“Building on the achievements of Local Law 129, today’s legislation will help to eliminate barriers so that more MWBEs can participate in City contracts. While expanding the scope of MWBE-eligible contracts, the legislation will also improve oversight and reporting requirements to ensure that the City is meeting its MWBE goals.

“For too long, minorities and women have been effectively shut out of City contracts. With today’s bill, we level the playing field to give these businesses the access that they deserve. This legislation is important not only because it provides fairness and equal opportunity to MWBEs, but because it will help grow businesses that will provide jobs, spur economic growth and diversify our economy, and because it will increase competition for City contracts, which will translate into lower costs and increased quality.

“I thank the broad coalition of advocates who helped shape this bill. I especially thank Rev. Jacques DeGraff and Sandra Wilkin for their vision and their tireless work on behalf of MWBEs—the impact of their leadership from the very outset of this legislation simply cannot be overstated. I thank Council Members Inez Dickens, Leroy Comrie, Darlene Mealy, Diana Reyna, Robert Jackson, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jumaane Williams and former Council Member James Sanders for all of their efforts on this bill and in support of MWBEs generally. I thank Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway and the staff at MOCS and SBS for working hand in hand with the Council to achieve these much needed improvements. And, of course, I thank Mayor Bloomberg for signing this bill into law today.”

###