This news will likely not surprise the women and minority-owned businesses in Durham, but for everyone else, the data is stunning: From 2007–2012, 97 percent of all city contracts in construction, goods and services went to white-owned businesses; less than 3 percent were awarded to those owned by minorities and women.
A disparity report analyzing these contract patterns says minority- and women-owned businesses are “significantly underutilized.” Durham City Council will discuss the dismal findings at its 1 p.m.work session in the second floor committee room at City Hall.
According to the report, MWBEs, as these businesses are known, were especially overlooked as prime and subcontractors. It recommends that the city’s program “may need to be revamped.”
The other item of interest on today’s agenda is a follow-up presentation on the light rail project between Durham and Orange counties.
Triangle Transit will present a report on the pros and cons of proposed station locations near Duke University Hospital and the VA, the siting of the maintenance facility and environmental considerations in the routing near New Hope Creek and Little Creek. The proposed downtown realignment is not on today’s agenda.
