Philadelphia Approves Small-Business Contract Preferences and Permanent Arts Office
On November 3, Philadelphia voters approved two amendments to the city’s Home Rule Charter. Unofficial results showed 78.8% supported giving small and local businesses advantages when bidding for city contracts, while 83.6% backed making Creative Philadelphia a permanent office.
The contracting change allows the city to grant agreements valued at $75,000 to $500,000 to qualifying small, local firms, even when they are not the lowest bidder. It also permits some contracts to be reserved for those businesses. The city spends more than $1 billion annually on goods, services and construction.
The change advances Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s shift away from race- and gender-conscious contracting preferences. The charter’s existing language allowing goals for businesses led by women, people from communities of color and people with disabilities remains, but the administration says it is gradually ending the practice in response to federal legal developments. The city says small and local preferences can direct contract spending to economically disadvantaged firms.
The second amendment establishes Creative Philadelphia in the charter, preventing a future mayor from eliminating it by executive order. The office promotes arts and culture, administers grants and public art programs, and will consolidate the city’s arts initiatives. It has 10 staff members and may grow to 15. The charter also requires a mayor-appointed chief cultural officer and sets the position’s annual salary at $205,000.
Philadelphia’s Contract Shift Replaces Race-Conscious Goals With Small-Business Preferences
Philadelphia voters have approved a contracting change that shifts the city away from race- and gender-conscious preferences as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration phases out that approach. On November 3, 78.8% backed giving small and local firms advantages in city bidding.
The charter amendment allows agreements valued at $75,000 to $500,000 to be awarded to eligible firms even when they are not the lowest bidders, and lets the city reserve some contracts for them. The city spends more than $1 billion each year on goods, services and construction. The administration says the new approach will still steer public dollars to economically disadvantaged firms.
But the charter’s existing provision allowing participation goals for enterprises led by women, people from communities of color and people with disabilities remains in place. The administration says it is gradually ending that longstanding practice because of federal legal developments. The vote therefore makes a substantial change in how opportunity is distributed while leaving that charter language intact.
Voters also approved making Creative Philadelphia permanent, with 83.6% in favor. The office promotes arts and culture, runs grants and public art programs, and will consolidate city arts initiatives. It may have up to 15 employees; the charter requires a mayor-appointed chief cultural officer with an annual salary of $205,000.
Philadelphia Voters Back Small-Business Contracting Over Race-Based Preferences
Philadelphia voters endorsed a shift toward small and local businesses in city contracting, approving the change with 78.8% support on November 3. The administration of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has been moving away from race- and gender-conscious preferences amid federal legal developments.
The charter change lets the city award agreements from $75,000 to $500,000 to eligible small, local firms even if they do not offer the lowest bid. It also allows certain contracts to be set aside for those businesses. With more than $1 billion spent annually on goods, services and construction, the change gives the city a way to favor local small firms in a significant share of public procurement.
The charter still contains language permitting goals for enterprises led by women, people from communities of color and people with disabilities, though the administration says it is phasing out that practice. The new approach centers business size and local status instead, which the city says can still direct money to economically disadvantaged firms.
Voters also supported making Creative Philadelphia a permanent charter office, with 83.6% in favor. It promotes arts and culture, administers grants and public art programs, and will bring city arts initiatives together. The office can grow from 10 staff members to 15, and its chief cultural officer will be appointed by the mayor and paid $205,000 annually.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, PhillyVoice.
