Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses

The City actively supports utilization of WMBE (women- and minority-owned businesses) on City contracts as both primes and subcontractors, and each City department establishes plans and annual voluntary goals for WMBE inclusion in consulting and purchasing contracts.

The City of Seattle defines WMBE firms as state-certified or self-identified firms at least 51% owned by women and/or minorities.

See below for a list of resources as well as find a link to surveys to share input on how the City can better serve WMBEs. 

Fact Sheets

• Doing Business with the City flyer

Disparity study 

In 2021, the City of Seattle commissioned a disparity study to evaluate if Women- and Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (WMBEs) have equal access to Citywide contracting opportunities.

The large-scale, comprehensive study was the first-of-its-kind at the City and was conducted by Colette Holt & Associates (CHA), a nationally recognized expert on disparity studies and WMBE programs. CHA has completed studies for multiple agencies across Washington state over many years. 

The City’s study was completed in 2025 and the City is in the process of analyzing the results, communicating findings with stakeholders and community, and developing a plan to implement recommendations.  

You can access the full study here.

2024 Annual WMBE Report

The 2024 Annual WMBE Report details the work the City performs to ensure WMBEs have equitable opportunities to pursue City contracts. 

Doing business with the City

Does your firm want to do business with the City, but you aren't sure where to start? You can contact Miguel Beltran at miguel.beltran@seattle.gov with questions.

Technical Assistance 

Are you interested in receiving technical assistance to do business with the City of Seattle? Click here for a guide on which free services are right for you, and see below for more information on how to contact them. 

The City of Seattle has contracted with Tabor 100 and Business Impact Northwest (BINW) to provide Technical Assistance services to companies interested in doing business with the City. You are welcome to contact one or both consultants to explore more about the services they provide. Their contact information is also listed below. And if you have any questions, please contact Miguel Beltran at Miguel.beltran@seattle.gov or (206) 684-5452.

Tabor 100 - Darold Bivens, darold.bivens@tabor100.org, (425) 528-0117

BINW - Monique - Domonique Juleon, domoniquej@businessimpactnw.org, (206) 324-4330 x147

Visit the Tabor 100 website to learn more about the Liberty Project.

Get recognized as a WMBE

There are two ways to be recognized as a WMBE by the City.

• You may self-identify as a WMBE by registering through the City's Procurement Portal.
• You may pursue state certification through the Washington State Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE).

OMWBE certifies small businesses owned and controlled by a minority, woman or a socially and economically disadvantaged (DBE) person for the state and federal level. Most City projects with federal funds require a DBE or state WMBE certification to count toward the corresponding DBE or WMBE requirements. If you are a business owner who fits these criteria, we encourage you to visit OMWBE's site to learn about certification and its benefits.

Learn more

• 2025 WMBE Goals
• 2025 Outreach Plan
• 2022 Annual WMBE Report
• City department WMBE advisors
• Executive Order 2010-05: For Outreach to Women and Minority Businesses
• Executive Order 2014-03: Equity in City Contracting
• Executive Order 2019-06: Economic Inclusion and Contracting Equity
• Executive Order 2023-07: Equity and Opportunity in City Contracting
• Acceptable Work Site poster

Projects