Diversity in Contracting's Spring 2020 Newsletter

Diversity in Contracting

May 2020 | Q2

Message from the Managing Director:

Welcome to Diversity in Contracting’s Spring newsletter. We are pleased to share that the Port exceeded its 2019 goal for Women Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) utilization. The Port of Seattle invested over $114 million dollars in WMBE enterprises last year representing 15.3 percent of total Port expenditures. While these results are welcome, there is still room for improvement. The Port still needs to eliminate disparities for women and ethnic communities on our projects and my Diversity in Contracting department is working extra hard this year to create more WMBE business opportunities. Learn more about these efforts – enjoy our newsletter!

Port Achieves its Five-Year Goal for WMBE Utilization

Women and minority-owned firms won more business with the Port in 2019, resulting in a significant increase in WMBE spend.

Port Maintains Commitment To Small Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis

"The Port values its role in the community and is, at every level, using its influence to ensure that local businesses have access to the support that they need to survive. The relationship between the Port and the community is vital to the economic stability of our region, and now is the time to work together in order to strengthen the foundation of that relationship".

Port Quantifies Disparities in its Contracting

The Port recently commissioned a study that examines whether or not there is evidence of disparity for minority- and women-owned firms in relation to the Port's contracting opportunities. The findings show why the work we do is so vital to our region.

Success through SEA Partnership

John Amaya got his first job with the Port in the late 90’s. Amaya has now done a dozen or so jobs at SeaTac Airport. “One of the great things about working with the Port is there’s a lot of teamwork. People invite us to participate in new contracts.”