Street vendors in Times Square | Photo by Chan Tim on Unsplash
NEW YORK — New York City officials announced another record‑breaking year for minority‑ and women‑owned business enterprises (M/WBEs), marking the third consecutive year of growth and placing the Adams administration ahead of schedule in meeting its long‑term equity goals. For Filipino American and other immigrant entrepreneurs who often face steep barriers to public contracting, the gains signal widening access to city opportunities.
According to the Mayor’s Office, the city awarded $6.9 billion in total M/WBE contracts during Fiscal Year 2025, putting New York City on track to exceed its OneNYC commitment of $25 billion in M/WBE contracts by FY 2026 — six months early. Officials said the results reflect a coordinated effort to expand economic mobility for underrepresented business owners, including many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs who power neighborhood economies.
Under Local Law 1 (LL1), which governs the city’s M/WBE program, agencies reached a 36.4 percent utilization rate, the highest in the program’s history and more than five percentage points above the previous record set in FY 2024. The city also awarded $2.2 billion in LL1‑eligible contracts, the first time LL1 awards have exceeded $2 billion.
City Leaders Highlight Equity Gains With Impact on Immigrant Communities
Officials say inclusive contracting strengthens families, neighborhoods, and small business corridors.
Mayor Eric Adams said the city’s progress reflects a commitment to ensuring that public dollars reach the diverse business owners who keep New York’s economy running.
“For too long, minority and women‑owned businesses were left behind in city contracting,” Adams said in the announcement. “This milestone demonstrates how our administration is investing money where it sees value by making government more accessible and equitable.”
Chief Business Diversity Officer Michael J. Garner said the city’s approach shows that inclusive contracting is achievable at scale. He noted that more than $24 billion has been awarded to certified M/WBEs during the Adams administration, translating into job creation, homeownership opportunities, and improved economic stability for families in communities of color.
For Filipino American entrepreneurs — many of whom operate small, family‑run enterprises in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island — expanded access to city contracts can mean more stable revenue streams, stronger hiring capacity, and long‑term business growth.
Small Purchase Awards Double as Agencies Modernize Procurement
The city also reported major gains in its M/WBE Small Purchase method, a streamlined process that makes it easier for small businesses to compete for city work. Agencies awarded nearly $350 million through this method in FY 2025 — double the amount awarded in FY 2023 and the highest total to date.
SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross said the agency’s certification, financing, and business education programs played a key role in the record year. “Together with our partner agencies, we are working to unlock the economic potential of small businesses that power our city across the five boroughs,” Gross said.
Kim Yu, the city’s Chief Procurement Officer and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, emphasized the importance of modernizing procurement systems and eliminating outdated practices that have historically disadvantaged minority and immigrant entrepreneurs.
Advocates say progress opens doors for more AAPI and Fil‑Am participation
Officials credited several reforms for the program’s continued growth, including the appointment of the city’s first‑ever Chief Business Diversity Officer, Executive Order 34, which strengthens agency accountability, and the expansion of the Mayor’s M/WBE Advisory Council.
City leaders said they expect continued progress as agencies deepen partnerships and refine procurement processes to ensure equitable access to contracting opportunities — a development closely watched by Filipino American business owners seeking greater representation in the city’s economic landscape.
