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WBE only - $762,187 <br />MWBE - $350,389 <br />Self -reported - $4,487,781 <br /> <br />Miller inquired about the percentage when we take off self -reporting. Jones responded to <br />Miller’s question stating the certified only spend was 1.46%. <br />Jones moved to the Public Works (PW) projects with goals. The total spend ing on PW <br />projects with goals was $49,170,941. Of the total spent w ith MBE and or WBE is <br />$3,030,489 for a total utilization of 6.2%. <br />MBE only - $1,498,081 <br />WBE only - $1,340,518 <br />MBE/WBE only - $191,890 <br />Baylis inquired if there was a way to increase the spending with MBEs and WBEs, Jones <br />stated that the way to increase the spending would be more targeted ef forts and getting <br />more engagement . Baylis asked if we can attach a list o f MBE/WBEs to the pre-bid <br />documents when a new project comes out to help primes with reaching subs. Simmons- <br />Taylor stated this is something O DI can do. <br />Rea stated that we should add some context the 6% by being able to gauge if we are <br />heading in the right direction. The example provided was “if last month we are at 4% and <br />this month we are 6%” then that would tell a story. He continued with , we need to <br />develop more minority/women contractors or suppliers in the area, hence the desire to <br />geographically represent the growth so we can show our stakeholders we are building <br />inventory. More suppliers w hich will lead to more utilization. <br />Simmons-Ta ylor stated that she does not recall where we’ve hit 6% in her tenure and so <br />this does show that we are moving in the right direction. She continued with the Disparity <br />study listed 6% as an aspirational goal and we have met that for the last several months in <br />the PW space. Rea questioned is that from anyone in the region then stated he understood <br />that I ndiana is our market place, but we need to be able to show that we are building an <br />ecosystem here. That allows advocates like the folks around the table to be able to make <br />the case that this effort is succeeding. There have been questions about if this effort <br />exceeding so we have to be able to articulate our success. <br />Simmons-Taylor wanted to share the t rend for certified businesses in the area. She stated <br />currently there are 46 certified businesses in So uth Bend / Mishaw aka and 2491 in the <br />state of Indiana. Rea questioned why Berrien County Michigan was not included . <br />Ronalda Minnis – Minnis Consults (Consultant to ODI) was invited to respond to Rea’s <br />question. She stated that MI doe not have a certif ying program and Indiana does not <br />recognize Michigan Businesses. She st ated that the C ity has mad e connections to <br />WBENC which certifies WBEs in Berrien County as well as NMSDC, but there are no <br />other certifications t he city has written in to the program plan to recognize in th e state of <br />Michigan. <br />Rea stated that he was surprised as he thought Berrien County counted since they were in <br />our economy <br />Jones stated that being in Berrien County does not preclude businesses f rom counting. As <br />long as the business is cert if ied through WBENC and NMSDC Michigan program the