Mayor Adams Celebrates Another Record-Breaking Year of Supporting Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Chief Business Diversity Officer Michael J. Garner, Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Director Kim Yu, and New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross today celebrated a citywide effort to deliver yet another record-breaking year for contracting with, and supporting, minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE). The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 outcomes follow back-to-back record-breaking years of success for the city's M/WBE program.

In FY 2025, the city awarded $6.9 billion in M/WBE contracts to New Yorkers, which puts it on pace to surpass Mayor Adams's OneNYC proposal of $25 billion in M/WBE city contracts by FY 2026 - a full six months ahead of schedule. Under Local Law 1 (LL1), which governs the city's M/WBE program, the utilization rate was 36.4 percent - the highest ever in the program's history and eclipsing the record set in FY 2024 by more than 5 percent. The city also set a record-high in total contract value awarded to M/WBEs under LL1 at $2.2 billion - the first time the city has surpassed $2 billion in LL1 M/WBE contract awards. Additionally, more contracting dollars than ever were awarded to M/WBEs under the city's M/WBE Small Purchase method in FY 2025 - a contracting method that streamlines processes to more efficiently contract with M/WBEs - representing a total of nearly $350 million which effectively doubled the amount awarded with this method in FY 2023.

"When we came into office, we were clear that much more needed to be done to lift up our minority and women-owned businesses, which, for too long, were left behind in city contracting," said Mayor Adams. "Today, we are proud to announce, yet another historic milestone with a record $6.9 billion in contracts awarded to M/WBEs last fiscal year and a record 36.4 percent utilization rate for M/WBEs - the highest-ever in the history of the program. This, once again, demonstrates how our administration is investing money where it sees value by making smart, targeted investments that help make our city government more accessible and equitable to all. I thank Chief Garner, Commissioner Gross, and Director Yu for the work they are doing to impact lives every day and improve city services in the process."

"The City of New York has demonstrated with effective leadership that it's possible to award government contracts in a more inclusive manner," said Chief Business Diversity Officer Garner. "With more than $24 billion awarded to certified minority-and women-owned businesses during the Adams administration, we continue to drive equity within communities of color who have historically been excluded. Awarded government contracts equals job creation, homeownership for those respective business owners, and better educational and health care opportunities for their families."

"SBS is proud to contribute to yet another record-breaking year for M/WBEs in New York City," said SBS Commissioner Gross. "From helping to certify M/WBEs to programs like the Contract Financing Loan Fund and business education, together with our partner agencies, we are working to unlock the economic potential of small businesses that power our city across the five boroughs."

"We take pride in the strong agency partnerships we've established in our commitment to revolutionizing the contracting process in New York City," said New York City Chief Procurement Officer and Director of the New York City Mayor's Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Kim Yu. "MOCS aims to ensure that every dollar spent on contracts contributes to inclusive economic growth. By moving away from outdated perspectives and practices, we focus on developing systems, policies, and collaborations that eliminate barriers and provide tangible, sustainable access for our M/WBEs. We will continue our efforts for more transparency, efficiency, and accessibility of our city's contracting processes, making it possible for more M/WBEs to succeed."

The Adams administration has a proven track record of investing in the success and growth of M/WBEs. Mayor Adams appointed Michael Garner as the city's first-ever chief business diversity officer to address historic disparities in city contracting and provide minority- and women-entrepreneurs increased opportunities to do business with New York City. Additionally, Mayor Adams signed Executive Order 34, ensuring that each city agency has a senior staff member empowered to prioritize M/WBE programming; standardize data collection from city-affiliated entities that will help facilitate the city's full, real-time M/WBE performance outcome tracking; create more contracting opportunities for M/WBEs wherever practicable.

Finally, the city continues to leverage the Mayor Adams' M/WBE Advisory Council's network of M/WBE advocates and sector leaders.

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