They're dealing just with me. But an investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found that Massachusetts has redefined compliance with that mandate, so state contractors can meet the goal by paying for goods or services that may have nothing to do with a government contract. For example, C&W Facility Services — a division of real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield — which has a contract to provide services for the Massachusetts State House, reported spending $62,000 in fiscal year 2018 with a minority-owned, woman-owned business called Eastern Bag and Paper. Do I make anything? The following year, the office announced that its annual tally would now include “a wide range of business relationships formed with prime contractors, including subcontracting and the use of diverse businesses to supply products and services for general business needs.”. A spokesman for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, which oversees the diversity office, said state officials verify the minority business spending and had already identified the multiple errors that GBH brought to their attention. The list is based on prior year’s revenue of Massachusetts-based companies with minority/women ownership with at least a 51 percent equity stake in the company. Among the rows of single-door office spaces in the nondescript park is a company called A&M Business Solutions, owned by a Hispanic woman named Agnes Reed and her business partner. Black Owned Businesses in The Boston Area. Businesses and entities do not need to be state certified to be listed in the Cambridge Business Diversity Directory. Purchase CSV The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), wishes to provide important information to municipalities, regional authorities, consultants, contractors, and sub-contractors, regarding the requirements of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and the utilization of Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women-Owned Business … The Supplier Diversity Office began giving agencies credit for indirect spending after Baker took office, because, as the office said in a 2015 annual report, state agencies needed the extra credit to meet their goals for spending with minority-owned businesses. Updated August 2020. This story has been updated to point out that Baker has proposed legislation to expand opportunities for minority-owned busineses in major construction projects. But there is a reason Baker’s administration appears to be doing so well. “It appears this is an attempt to inflate the MBE and [women-owned business] contract dollars to ensure compliance.”. The list includes Massachusetts-based companies with minority/women ownership with at least a 51 percent equity stake in the company. The comprehensive source for current information on federally-certified minority and woman-owned businesses. Federal Resources first denied spending any money with A&M, and then stopped responding to requests for an explanation. Massachusetts has for years tallied state agencies’ direct spending with minority-owned businesses. 4 Copley Place, Suite 125 But if the city you call home doesn’t have a minority-focused initiative for small business grant opportunities, take a look at the selection below. “Any company could basically say, ‘Look, I spent X amount of dollars with a minority firm,’” Nunnally said, “and how would they know?”. Welcome to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Directory of Certified Businesses. Grocers or butchers or bakeries. State agencies provides technical and financial assistance to minority-owned businesses so that they can compete more successfully for federal, state, local government and commercial contracts. Keith Alex Greenaway, with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, says it’s OK if the state works with minority firms outside Massachusetts. State documents obtained by GBH News offer a glimpse of what this so-called “indirect spending” can include. That may be true, but because of the way the state reports minority spending, it is impossible to tell whether minority-owned businesses are actually any better off. WGBH News coverage is a resource provided by member-supported public radio. Boston, aka Beantown, is home to some amazing Black owned businesses. Crediting state agencies for this indirect spending “is not an accurate account of state contracting dollars to minority businesses,” said Reggie Nunnally, who ran the Supplier Diversity Office from 2009 to 2015. Arianna says “I’m looking for businesses that offer meat and food products. Over 1,800 Black businesses and counting. Party supply stores if they’re available”..10:25 PM. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. In January, GBH News reported that the inflation-adjusted value of state spending with minority-owned businesses had dropped by about 24% over the past two decades. In a 2018 briefing document, prime contractors were told they could meet their minority inclusion goals by counting janitorial, catering and accounting services provided by a minority business, even if those services were not directly related to an individual state contract. In an email to GBH News, the finance office spokesman said the state does not restrict participation to Massachusetts companies because “Some services and products are not offered by in-state firms, a large pool of potential vendors helps to ensure the Commonwealth is receiving the best value, and a broad array of contractors helps to minimize potential shortages of supplies or services, a need that is evident given the COVID-19 environment.”. The company, Federal Resources, won a $400,000 contract with the department to provide robots and other bomb detection and disposal equipment. Fax: 617-236-0704. State agencies also serve as advocates for minority-owned businesses to enhance economic development. Commercial Landscape Maintenance & Lawn Care, Largest Minority/Women-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts, Returning to the Workplace After the Covid-19 Pandemic. 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