County tallies progress on spending with MWBE

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·2 min read

Mar. 22—GUILFORD COUNTY — The Guilford County Board of Commissioners received an encouraging update on one of its long-sought goals of spending more county dollars with minority- and women-owned businesses.

The MWBE staff, which was increased a year ago as part of a board commitment to the program, told the commissioners that spending with minority- and women-owned vendors has increased significantly in the past year. The discussion took place during a board work session Thursday afternoon.

Total spending more than doubled from the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year from $3.5 million to $8.46 million. County spending with Black-owned businesses increased 184% from $913,516 to $2.6 million while spending with white woman-owned enterprises went up 260% from $1.1 million to $4.1 million.

Spending also increased 281% with Hispanic-owned vendors from $48,085 to $183,548 and 18% with Asian-American businesses from $1.37 million to $1.62 million.

MWBE Department Director Shaunne Thomas told the commissioners that the department achieved eight of the 12 goals in the first year of the program of work that the board adopted a year ago.

MWBE Marketing Manager Ferreli McGilvary said the department has been aggressive in reaching out to minority- and woman-owned businesses to encourage them to seek business from Guilford County. The steps have included a newsletter sent to more than 3,300 recipients and working with vendors to encourage them to make bids.

Consultant Fred McKinney with BJM Solutions told the commissioners that the county MWBE program, which costs $1.8 million to operate annually, generates $42 million in spinoff economic impact and new tax revenue.

The department estimates that there are 2,700 MWBE enterprises in a 27-county region with 520 in Guilford County.

Commissioners Kay Cashion and Frankie Jones said that the county is moving in the right direction on MWBE.

In another matter, the commissioners received an update on its portion of the national opioid settlement. Assistant County Manager Victor Isley said the county's portion could total $39.4 million in phases during the next 15 fiscal years through 2039.

County staff and the commissioners are discussing how to use the opioid settlement funds to counter addiction in communities through a strategic plan. The uses could include the new site at Gibson Park in north High Point to assist recovering women with children.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul