In a recent hybrid meeting of the Milwaukee County Committee on Transportation and Transit, significant discussions centered around the participation of certified firms in the County's disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) and targeted business enterprise (TBE) programs. The meeting, held on March 5, 2025, provided an overview of contract awards for the months of November and December 2024, as well as a summary of participation throughout the entire year.

The report highlighted that in November 2024, over $16 million in contracts were awarded, with nearly $9 million deemed eligible for DBE and TBE participation. Certified firms secured approximately $6.3 million of these eligible contracts, representing 70.3% of the eligible contract dollars and 38.7% of the total awarded. December saw a larger volume, with contracts totaling over $35 million, of which about $1.8 million was eligible for participation. Certified firms received around $820,000, accounting for 45.2% of the eligible contract dollars and just 2.3% of the total awarded that month.

A breakdown of the awarded contracts revealed that in November and December, significant amounts were allocated to various minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Specifically, $680,000 went to Asian-owned firms, $107,000 to Black-owned firms, $626,000 to Hispanic-owned firms, and $4.8 million to women-owned firms. Additionally, $912,000 was awarded to small businesses.

Comparing 2024 to 2023, the report indicated a slight increase in the percentage of dollars awarded to certified firms, rising from 13.2% in 2023 to 13.4% in 2024. This uptick was attributed to a higher volume of contracts available in 2024, leading to a total of approximately $468 million in contracts awarded throughout the year. Of this, about $167 million was deemed eligible for participation, with certified firms securing approximately $62 million, or 37.39% of the eligible contract dollars.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions from committee members, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to supporting certified businesses within Milwaukee County. This report not only reflects the County's efforts to promote diversity in contracting but also highlights the importance of continued monitoring and support for these initiatives moving forward.