Contact: DOA Communications: DOACommunications@wisconsin.gov
 

MADISON— Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Joel Brennan announced today that for the first time in six years, Wisconsin exceeded its goal of spending 5 percent of state dollars with Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBEs). The announcement that the state spent 5.4% with MBE and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB) is part of the larger Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) FY20 Annual report released today.

“Contracting and working with diverse businesses is a key component of economic equity, job creation, and wealth creation in diverse communities,” said Secretary Brennan. “The Supplier Diversity Program is just one example of Governor Evers’ commitment to creating opportunity for all Wisconsinites.”

“We are excited to have achieved significant growth in our MBE diverse spend in FY20,” said State of Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program Director Tondra Davis.  “We are committed to continuing and expanding the strategies that helped us attain this success, and will continue to implement the directives of Governor Evers’ EO59 to help diverse business owners gain contract opportunities in Wisconsin.”

The SDP, housed within DOA, certifies MBE, DVB and Woman-Owned (WBE) businesses to provide better opportunities for them to do business with the State of Wisconsin. Certified MBE and DVB businesses may receive a 5 percent bid preference when they bid on state contracts, per state statute. Other FY20 report highlights include SDP diverse spend percentages of:

  • 5.85 percent for general procurement,
  • 2.85 percent architecture and engineering,
  • 3.43 percent Department of Transportation state highway, and
  • 6.37 percent construction.

Governor Tony Evers has proposed expanding the SDP as part of his “Wisconsin for All” initiative within his 21-23 Executive Budget. The proposal includes new supplier certifications for Disability-Owned Business Enterprises and LGBT-Owned Business Enterprises. In addition, Gov. Evers proposes eliminating the fees currently charged for DVB and WBE certifications.

“I’m grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Supplier Diversity team under the leadership of Director Tondra Davis,” Brennan continued. “In a little more than a year, Director Davis has expanded ways to educate and support diverse Wisconsin businesses. Even with that success, we still have much more to do. The governor’s budget would provide the Supplier Diversity team with additional resources to help more small minority-owned, women-owned, LGBT-owned, and disabled-owned businesses seek, bid, and win contracts for projects with the State of Wisconsin.”

For more information about the SDP and to read the entire report, visit: wisdp.wi.gov.

 
 
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