St. Paul's efforts to contract disadvantaged firms has mixed results, but excel compared to the state
October 14, 2021 at 17:40 PM EDT
As an equalizing measure, the municipality sets targets for the percentage of city contracting dollars to award small, women-owned; small, ethnic minority-owned; and Section 3 businesses — businesses owned by residents of low-income areas as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. From 2010 to 2020, the city missed its target for women-owned businesses four times, for ethnic minorities once, and for Section 3 businesses once.