Montgomery County Council Extends the County’s Minority, Female, and Disabled-Owned Business Purchasing Program Through 2029
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
From the Offices of Council Vice President Jawando and Councilmember Sayles
On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed Expedited Bill 23-24, Contracts and Procurement – Minority Owned Businesses – Sunset Date – Amendments. At-large Councilmembers Laurie-Anne Sayles and Will Jawando introduced the bill on Oct. 15.
Expedited Bill 23-24 is cosponsored by Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Council President Kate Stewart, and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Gabe Albornoz, Natali Fani-González, Kristin Mink, Sidney Katz and Evan Glass. The bill continues the County’s commitment to supporting minority, female and disabled business owners. Councilmembers Sayles and Jawando have championed this program previously, having extended the program in December 2023 with full Council support. This bill extends the sunset date for the County’s minority-owned business purchasing program for five years until Dec. 1, 2029.
“The success of our minority, female, and disabled-owned businesses is a key indicator of Montgomery County’s overall economic health, and this program is making a real difference for those businesses. Expedited Bill 23-24 underscores the County’s commitment to creating a level playing field,” said Council Vice President Jawando. “Over the past two years, this program has driven a significant increase in MFD participation across multiple sectors. I look forward to our continued progress over the program’s next five years.”
“Today, we proudly passed Bill 23-24, a measure I introduced alongside Council Vice President Jawando. This bill enhances our County’s purchasing program for minority, female, and disabled-owned businesses, reinforcing our commitment to address the disparities historically marginalized communities face,” Councilmember Sayles said. “Our diversity is our greatest asset, and by investing in these communities and creating pathways for success, we can work towards closing the wealth gap. This initiative empowers our County’s dynamic businesses to play a vital role in strengthening our economy. As we strive for the ongoing success of the MFD program, let’s remember that an economy that embraces our diversity benefits us all.”
“Montgomery County purchases products and services from thousands of businesses every year,” said Council President Stewart, who chairs the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. “Advancing our businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities starts with our own County through contracts for goods and services, and why it is essential we continue the County’s minority, female, and disabled-owned businesses program.”
The Montgomery County Disparity Study, released in September 2024, demonstrated statistically significant disparities across construction, professional services, other services, and goods sectors for almost all target groups from 2015 through 2021. Bill 23-24 would require a new disparity study to be presented by July 1, 2029.
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In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, the latest annual report, the County awarded $246,374,095 to MFD businesses, or 22 percent of the total eligible dollars eligible for MFD program use ($1.09 billion) and more than $30 million above the FY22 amount.
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Release ID: 24-439
Media Contact: David Kunes 240-350-5104, Eesha Bemra 240-777-7829
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46300