Westchester County’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) program had 150 businesses register to participate during 2023 and has now passed the $250 million mark in awards since having been re-launched in 2018, it was revealed today.
The program had somewhat languished until current Westchester County Executive George Latimer took office six years ago and his administration began a program expansion. The MWBE program helps connect minority and women-owned businesses to county departments so they can take advantage of contract opportunities. The MWBE program also offers free workshops and training.
Latimer and members of his administration appeared at Jan. 31 briefing on the MWBE program at the County Office Building in White Plains.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to creating an inclusive and thriving economic landscape,” Latimer said. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain steadfast in our dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and fostering a diverse community where everyone can reach their full potential.”
Bridget Gibbons, director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development, said, “This quarter-billion-dollar infusion has not only fueled economic growth but has also empowered diverse entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, resilience, and a more inclusive business landscape.”
According to Westchester County Director of Operations Joan McDonald, “Through strategic support, our MWBE program has become a catalyst for innovation and lasting positive change within our vibrant community. Reaching this milestone only reaffirms Westchester’s commitment to cultivating opportunities and diversity.”
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins recalled that a past complaint had been that it was difficult to identify minority and women-owned businesses operating in the county. He noted that the county now has created a directory of MWBEs that can be used by anyone.
“We need to be a partner with the business community; we need to be a partner with the individual entrepreneurs and help them get what they need at that moment to the extent that we can that will help them rise up and grow,” Latimer said.
Latimer explained that there’s an ideology that says capitalism intrinsically is an unfair system and does not work to benefit people, particularly people of color and women and those who start out in life with a strike or two or three against them.
“The real world of the economy of this nation is based on being able to develop skills, to be able to have products that are valuable that people will consume and out of that comes the potential of wealth and the building of wealth for the individual,” Latimer said. “The important thing for me is … how you can incentivize that individual to bridge the gap that we see at the beginning of life because your skin color is different or because your gender has been historically not given the proper opportunity. That s what this program is about. It is about extending opportunity and assistance to people who want to show drive and determination and get ahead.”
