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Mayor Sarno Issues Update on the City of Springfield’s Progress and Efforts on City Contracts to Minority, Women, and Veteran Owned Businesses

Springfield, MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno provided an update on the City of Springfield’s continued and ongoing efforts working with our local minority, women, and veteran owned businesses in procuring city contracts.  In addition, the Mayor shared updated information on the City’s response and efforts providing much-needed relief and recovery initiatives for our residents and business community.

 

For Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19), the City of Springfield procured contracts for purchases, supplies, and services.  Below is the breakdown.

 

City Issued Contracts

  • 315 city issued contracts
    • 40 or 12.7% were to minority and women owned businesses
  • Total expenditure of city issued contracts is over $92 million
    • Over $12 million or 13.1% expenditure to minority and women owned businesses

 

Mayor Sarno stated, “I am proud of my administration’s efforts in being the most diverse and reflective of our city’s population in its history.  While all city contracts must meet all legal procurement guidelines and requirements, we always strive for continued betterment.  My administration is committed to creating more and more opportunities for our Women, Veterans, and Black and Latino owned businesses.  Working with State Representative Bud Williams, Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan and I, through our Office of Planning and Economic Development, will announce shortly a technical assistance program for those interested in becoming certified with the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM).  This is so key for being able to bid and compete for this work and jobs.”

 

The City of Springfield continues to plan for post-pandemic economic development initiatives, opportunities, and recover efforts.  Development projects that are underway continue to progress and more projects are in the works as part of the City of Springfield’s post-pandemic economic development vision.

 

The Brightwood-Lincoln Elementary School project is an example of the City’s continued efforts to meet the Responsible Employer Ordinance (REO).  As of January 2021, the project is close to or exceeding all of the goals, with much of the labor coming from our dedicated union building trades (see below).

 

Residents

  • Goal:               35%
  • Actual:            29.7%

 

Women

  • Goal:               6.9%
  • Actual:            7.2%

 

Minority

  • Goal:               20%
  • Actual:            29.1%

 

Veteran

  • Goal:               5%
  • Actual:            5.5%

 

During the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, which has adversely effected our residents and business community, Mayor Sarno and his administration has provided much-needed relief and recovery initiatives.  In April 2020, Mayor Sarno announced the first of four rounds of Prime the Pump funding to provide vital relief to the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic.

 

Prime the Pump

  • $1.5 million in four rounds of Prime the Pump grant program
    • 112 of 169 or 72% awarded to minority, women, and veteran owned business in the three rounds for for-profit businesses

 

“Even as we continue to work together to defeat this COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, we must dictate our own future and move forward on all of our capital and economic development projects across the city,” said Mayor Sarno.  “My administration is committed to providing much-need relief for our residents and business community and working and advocating with our community stakeholders to bring public health needs to our most vulnerable, underserved and marginalized residents.”