Design and Construction Report staff writer
The U.S. Minority Contractors Association (USMCA) has issued a statement expressing its concerns about potential policy changes to the national Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
The association also outlines several measures members and others can take to mitigate the changes occurring because of legal rulings and president Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate all DEI initiatives within the federal civil service.
The USMCA warns in its statement issued last Friday (Jan. 25) that eliminating these programs could have severe consequences for minority- and women-owned businesses and individuals.
The DBE and DEI programs have been instrumental in leveling the playing field for underrepresented businesses and individuals in the construction industry, the association says.”These programs have fostered economic growth, innovation, and inclusion across the industry,” the USMCA statement says.
The USMCA is concerned that the potential elimination of these programs will have a devastating impact on minority- and women-owned businesses. The association is calling on its members to unite and advocate for the continuation of these programs.
Potential Consequences of Eliminating DBE and DEI Programs:
- Loss of opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Decreased representation and inclusion
- Widening economic disparities
- Reputational and legal risks
- Economic and organizational impact
The USMCA says it is committed to working with its members and other stakeholders to protect the interests of minority- and women-owned businesses. The association believes that it is essential to preserve these hard-fought gains and continue building an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous business environment for all.
“The USMCA Board of Directors strongly encourages each of our members to reach out, share your concerns, regardless of their content, and collaborate with us to finalize our ultimate plan of action and act effectively, the statement says.
“Together, we MUST navigate these changes and continue building an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous business environment for our members and the communities we serve.”
the association lists seven “action items necessary to overcome the unrecedented assaults on small/disadvantaged firms:
1. Direct and encourage all USMCA member firms to fully embrace the U.S. Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration’s definition and categories for small business regulations. *(Small Business Size Regulations are in Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 121(13 CFR §121). Moreover, the SBA-HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.
2. Identify various local affinity groups within each state which are receptive to establishing collaboratives and alliances with the USMCA on this subject in each chapter.
3. Identify various local, regional, and state government policies which cite local preferences in the construction procurement areas. (Understanding that local preference policies are non-gender and non-race specific).
4. Identify private sector companies, which are publicly willing to embrace non-race and nongender specific programs that are equitable and inclusive.
5. Identify opportunities in each state where in USMCA can become an amicus curia (friend of the court) in court cases.
6. Each state chapter must organize and host one monthly meeting within the next 90 days to showcase subject matter experts on these policies.
7. Contact state/regional NAACP Legal Defense Fund in each state; likewise, various Urban League offices, to ascertain the status of legal discussions and pursuits.
