Miles SmithPhiladelphia has been working to increase the diversity of businesses that are awarded infrastructure construction contracts, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said during a recent event focusing on the early stages of the construction process.
Johnson spoke at the 2024 Philadelphia’s Anchors for Growth and Equity Real Estate and Construction Summit to discuss how the city can encourage developers to hire more diverse firms.
The citywide goal is for 35% of city contracts to go to minority, woman, or disabled-owned businesses, but Johnson said he wanted to see that percentage increase to 50%.
“If you’re a district councilperson, your leverage and your bully pulpit is if [developers] need your support,” Johnson said. “You should be leveraging that in terms of making sure that whatever project goes through your district is equitable and it provides everybody to have an opportunity to at least be at the table and discuss what opportunities are available.”
The city is partnering with a private firm to provide business advisory services to assist historically underutilized businesses to engage in public works projects in Philadelphia.
Additionally, since 2023, the city has encouraged diversity by increasing communication via Procurement Forecast for Public Works projects. The forecast provides more transparency to historically underutilized businesses, the city said.
The city updates its 18- to-24-month forecast every six months. The next update will be in October.
The most recent list released in April reflects more than $520 million of upcoming work.
There are more than 130 projected public works opportunities across multiple city departments including the Department of Streets, Office of Sustainability, Philadelphia Energy Authority, aviation department and water department.
The opportunities include projects for contractors and subcontractors in fields such as highway and bridge construction, electrical installation, water and sewer structures, manufacturing, trucking and warehousing and general labor and equipment operation.
Photo by chandler denise on Unsplash
