The City of Orlando passed a resolution in early April for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ owned businesses in contracting and procurement opportunities with the city. The City of Orlando has long provided inclusionary measures for businesses owned by underrepresented minorities, but they were strictly for racial minority, women and veteran owned businesses.
The Resolution states the City will provide a mechanism to monitor and track usage of LGBTQ+ owned and certified businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the City of Orlando. It will also develop training programs and services that will ensure LGBTQ+ business owners are familiar with how to do business with the City of Orlando and are informed about procurement opportunities. Lastly, it will develop a database and registry of LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
To qualify, the business must be owned by 51% or more by LGBTQ+ individuals. The City will recognize the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as the certifying organization.
Below is the full language of the resolution.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA, FOR THE INCLUSION OF LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER QUESTIONING/QUEER+ OWNED BUSINESSES (“LGBTQ+”); PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CORRECTION OF SCRIVENER’S ERRORS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Orlando is one of the most diverse cities in the country with a large LGBTQ+ community; and
WHEREAS, ensuring the success of our small business community in the City of Orlando is vital to our growth and improving quality of life for our residents; and
WHEREAS, the City of Orlando is committed to providing historically underrepresented business owners equal opportunities to compete and succeed, and is committed to increasing the number and diversity of supplier options; and
WHEREAS, the City of Orlando already provides inclusionary measures for underrepresented business entities that are Minority or Woman owned (“MWBE”) and Veteran owned businesses (“VBE”); and
WHEREAS, the City of Orlando already adheres to non-discrimination, affirmative action, and equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies that includes LGBTQ+ individuals with regards to individual hiring practices; and
WHEREAS, the City is seeking to better understand the LGBTQ+ owned business community by creating a database and registry of these businesses and to track usage of LGBTQ+ owned and certified businesses in the procurement of goods and services; and
WHEREAS, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) was founded in 2002 and is now the recognized national third party certifying body for LGBTQ+ owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, the NGLCC and/or NGLCC’s affiliate or partner has committed to providing independent scholarship programs, mentorship and leadership training, networking opportunities, and other business development tools to further support LGBTQ+ business entities in Orlando with the support of the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA Orlando).
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Orlando, Florida as follows:
1. Recognition of LGBTQ+ Owned Business Entity Certification. The City of Orlando will develop a database and registry of LGBTQ+ owned businesses as those that are owned by 51% or more by LGBTQ+ individuals. The City will recognize the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as the certifying organization.
2. Monitor and Track Usage of LGBTQ+ Owned Business Entities. The City of Orlando will monitor and track usage of LGBTQ+ owned and certified businesses in the procurement of goods and services for the City of Orlando.
3. Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses. The City of Orlando will provide LGBTQ+ owned businesses with training programs and services consistent with those offered to Minority, Women and Veteran Owned businesses in the City to ensure such businesses are familiar with how to do business with the City of Orlando and are informed about procurement opportunities.