Ensuring that minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups have fair access to economic opportunity is a top priority.

Minority- and women-owned businesses play a vital role in our local economy and are driving the growth of new business and jobs in Harris County.

Two years ago, Harris County Commissioners Court commissioned a disparity study to determine if minority- and women-owned businesses have access to government contracting and procurement.

While we will be opening our Office of Economic Equity and Opportunity later this year, contracting is not going to wait until its open, therefore, we need to start working on creating a Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program right away to cure the harm being done with our current practices.

We will continue to work together to advance the cause of MWBE opportunities not only in the county but at every local governmental entity in the Harris County.