Search the site

Minority, women and emerging small business program

Doing business  ›  MWESB program

Metro's minority, women and emerging small business program is designed to increase access, remove barriers to participation and improve contracting policies.

Metro’s MWESB policies are race and gender neutral. All contractors are welcome to compete in MWESB contracting processes regardless of race or gender, as long as they are certified by the State of Oregon as a minority-owned business enterprise (MBE), women-owned business enterprise (WBE), or emerging small business (ESB). Metro does not certify contracts, but rather relies on State of Oregon certification.

Are you a state certified MBE, WBE, or ESB?

Metro aggressively seeks opportunities to do business with minority-owned, women-owned and emerging small businesses (MWESB).
Visit the State of Oregon Minority and/or Women Business Enterprise certification site
Visit the State of Oregon Emerging Small Business certification site

Informal purchasing opportunities

Purchases under $25,000 are open to all bidders, but do require that at least one MBE, WBE, and ESB are given the opportunity to bid. This requirement can be waived only when no MWESB firms are available.

Informal sheltered market

Construction opportunities under $25,000 are solicited from and bid among only qualified MWESB contractors. Competitive bidding requirements still apply, but it is within the sheltered market of MWESB firms. This requirement may be waived only when no qualified MWESB bidders respond.

Good faith effort

On all major construction projects, prime bidders are required to demonstrate a good faith effort in inviting MWESB firms to bid on subcontracts. The intent is to promote communication with local MWESB firms, so that they can compete for work within their area of expertise.

Community outreach

Metro participates in a variety of professional groups in an effort to diversify bidders.

Metro is a member of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, which has a plan center and sponsors special events of interest to the minority business community.
Visit the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs site

Metro also recognizes the local minority chambers of commerce and their contributions to the residents of this region:
African American Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon

Need assistance?

Angela Watkins, MWESB program coordinator
503-797-1816 | 503-797-1796 fax
angela.watkins@oregonmetro.gov

Files and related materials

Files that are downloadable from this page

• FY 2008-09 report: Utilization of minority, women and emerging small business at Metro 489K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published December 31, 2009
• FY 2007-08 report: Utilization of minority, women and emerging small business at Metro 565K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published November 25, 2008
• FY 2006-07 report: Utilization of minority, women and emerging small business at Metro 405K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published June 30, 2007
• Construction Sheltered Market Program flyer 87K Adobe Acrobat PDF | Published January 1, 2009