ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — On Monday, members of the Community Reparations Commission got the latest update on the “Cease the Harm” audit.
Officials suggest that outdated policies and practices are hindering businesses from opportunities for growth. Dr. Adrian Carter, PhD, with the Carter Development Group, spoke heavily on some of those disadvantages.
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The findings suggest that 72% of contracts under $5,000 have been awarded to the same vendor with two or more orders.
“What stood out in this particular study is that there’s a persistent utilization of repeat vendors that limits opportunities for minority-owned business,” Carter said.
He went on to say, “Vendors are receiving repeat businesses, so that may mean other vendors are not having the same opportunities. You have the city and procurement needs, and you also have an issue with small business readiness. How do you address the fact that you have opportunities, but you have a business or businesses that are not prepared to do the type of work the city may need.”
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During the presentation, officials touched base on three recommendations to help the African American community in this area when it comes to economic development, and that includes a disparity study focusing on how contracts are awarded… the establishment of a community-led Buncombe County Black Chamber of Commerce and the creation of a Utilization and Industry Dashboard to track how money is spent on vendors by the city and county in real time.
“In the last five years, if I can see all of the dollars spent on goods and services using the standardized commodity codes, then I know where and what the city and government are buying,” Carter said. “If I know what they’re buying, then I can do one of three things with my business: I can pivot, I can expand, or I can create a new business that provides that particular service.”
Carter focused heavily on the utilization and industry dashboard during the presentation, where he discussed the advantages of the Utilization and Industry Dashboard interface and what it has to offer.
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“It’s a user-friendly, online portal where it allows you to see all of the procurements that have gone out, goods and services that have been purchased.”
Carter says that implementing the Utilization and Industry Dashboard will enhance transparency, create access to historical data, and help entrepreneurs be more strategic in their decision-making.