Minority- and women-owned businesses left behind in city contracts, comptroller says
While the city says it aims to work with MWBEs, the data shows that only 5% of $46 billion in contracts last year — about $2.4 billion — went to those businesses.
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A new report from the City Comptroller’s Office shows minority- and women-owned business enterprises are being left behind when it comes to securing contract work in the city.
While the city says it aims to work with MWBEs, the data shows that only 5% of $46 billion in contracts last year — about $2.4 billion — went to those businesses. The report also found the average value of MWBE contracts was five times lower than that of noncertified firms.
The contracts include work ranging from school building renovations to marketing services.
“It’s really important that the people who get those contracts reflect the diversity of New York City, and historically, they have not. Women and people of color have been dramatically underrepresented,” Comptroller Mark Levine said.
The report also found that 65% of all MWBE contracts were registered after their start date, and 35% were registered more than a month late.
“If you’re a small business, those delays can put you into bankruptcy,” Levine said. “And so we also are recommending that the city accelerate payment on the contracts so that minority- and women-owned businesses can take on this work. They can survive financially and compete for this work.”
Levine said reform is necessary to level the playing field for businesses owned by people of color and women. He said many of these firms are small and may not have the financing to take on large contracts, underscoring the need for low‑interest financing and other support through small business services.
At the end of fiscal year 2025, there were 11,382 certified MWBEs, and 2,478 of them entered into a new contract or purchase order with the city.
“We can also offer coaching and other support through small business services to help them establish themselves,” Levine said. “Next is making sure when they do get a contract that they are paid on time. We want to make sure that we don’t just keep going back to that same 22% of MWBEs — that we broaden it out to reach more companies.”
Levine said the Mamdani administration has been briefed on the report.
“This report reflects the Eric Adams era, and it’s entirely based on the performance last year,” he said. “We’re going to come back next year with the new report with updated numbers, but it was important for us to have a marker now to compare so we can really evaluate the progress that the new mayor makes.”
