Each year, millions of dollars in contracts are awarded by the City of Milwaukee — from major construction projects to office supplies. And every year, businesses owned by Blacks, Hispanics and other underrepresented groups, including women compete for those city dollars.
Now, a long simmering debate over whether the city's process for awarding contracts is equitable for those businesses may be coming to a head through a new study that is examining the city's contracting system.
The city's process for awarding contracts has long been "race-neutral," which means race and gender cannot be used by the city as it awards contracts.