Authorizing the creation of a Special Committee on City and Private Sector Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies to examine the impact of such policies and to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to enhance policy effectiveness in the promotion of minority, women and disabled-owned businesses in the City of Philadelphia.

Authorizing the creation of a Special Committee on City and Private Sector Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies to examine the impact of such policies and to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to enhance policy effectiveness in the promotion of minority, women and disabled-owned businesses in the City of Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Philadelphia is an incredibly diverse City, yet business opportunities do not fully reflect such diversity; and WHEREAS, while minority, women and disabled-owned businesses (M/W/DSBEs) play a vital role in providing thousands of jobs, vibrant commercial corridors and revenue that directly supports City functions, disparities in opportunity and barriers to entry persist; and WHEREAS, such barriers include financial burdens, costly fees, discriminatory practices, lack of access to capital and equity-partnerships, to name a few; and WHEREAS, the City and some private sector participants have developed DEI policies, barriers still exist that prevent M/W/DSBEs from competing in our local economy; and WHEREAS, the City has an obligation to promote economic inclusion and equity for all. The City must make a focused analysis of the City’s DEI policies and procedures and those of the private sector as well. The City should also make recommendations on how best to implement these policies to ensure that every resident and business has the necessary tools to thrive; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That…