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COMMUNITY OP-ED NOVEMBER 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

Supporting Small Business and

Working-Class People Through M/WBEs

Under our administration, Black and Brown unemployment in New York City is at its

lowest point in half a decade. We have narrowed this gap by delivering new opportunities

to communities across the five boroughs that have been overlooked for far too long

ERIC ADAMS

ince day one, our administra-
tion has had a clear mission:
Sbuild a safer, more affordable
city for working-class New Yorkers,
and every day, we are delivering on
that mission. Jobs are up, our streets
are safer with crime down across the
city every month this year, and we
have a record 183,000 small business-
es across the five boroughs — the
highest ever in our city’s history.
Day after day, we are working This past year, NYC awarded the highest number of city contracts to M/WBEs ever and set a record for M/WBE awards within our city agencies,
to make sure New Yorkers have the
opportunities to grow their business- awarding a total of $1.59 billion dollars to M/WBEs across the five boroughs
es and service their city. That is why
we have made record investments their families, and get ahead; small Our M/WBE program is sup- Under our administration, Black
towards our Minority- and Wom- business owners with big dreams that porting that young couple who is and Brown unemployment in New
en-Owned Business Enterprise Pro- want a fair shot to turn that dream dreaming of building a small busi- York City is at its lowest point in half
gram — also known as M/WBEs — into a reality; and so many more. ness, the mom-and-pop stores that a decade. We have narrowed this
putting money back into communities For too long, communities of mean so much to our neighborhoods gap by delivering new opportunities
that have been denied a fair shot for color have been locked out of build- and tapping into the talent we have to communities across the five bor-
too long; and this year has been anoth- ing wealth and have found it difficult in our communities that want to help oughs that have been overlooked for
er record-breaking year for M/WBEs. to get their businesses off the ground. build our economy and our city. far too long. Our administration un-
This past year, we awarded the We cannot accept a city where peo- Three decades ago, Mayor David derstands that a job is what enables
highest number of city contracts ple of color miss out on the chance Dinkins made history by creating the us to achieve the American Dream.
to M/WBEs ever and set a record to build wealth for themselves, their city’s Minority- and Women-Owned That is why we have made historic
for M/WBE awards within our city children, and their grandchildren. Business Enterprise Program, and investments in M/WBEs — work-
agencies, awarding a total of $1.59 That is why city government is lead- while we have achieved historic mile- ing to connect New Yorkers to city
billion dollars to M/WBEs across the ing the way with our M/WBE pro- stones within the program, we must contracts, career opportunities, and
five boroughs — that is a 15 percent gram and showing we can invest in set the bar even higher going forward. good-paying jobs. We are opening the
increase since Fiscal Year 2022, the communities of color, while simul- That is why, last week, we announced doors of opportunity for communi-
first fiscal year of our administration. taneously delivering a quality prod- the creation of the M/WBE Advisory ties across the five boroughs because
But behind each of these numbers uct for New Yorkers. We know that Council to help advance the admin- working people deserve their fair
is also a human story — sisters and when we create the conditions for istration’s historic progress on sup- share, and we are giving it to them.
brothers of color finally able open small businesses to succeed our en- porting minority- and women-owned Eric Adams is the Mayor of
to their small businesses, support tire city wins. businesses. New York City, NY

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