The Pennsylvania Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities spent $4.2 billion on state contract spending during fiscal year 2020-2021, according to the bureau’s annual report.
This is 15 percent higher than the previous year’s total.
Of that total, nearly $856 million, 20.25 percent of total expenditures, was spent on small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran business enterprises. The largest increase, 11.72 percent, was in the small diverse businesses category.
The Small Business Reserve program awarded $43 million to small businesses. Funding was spent on 340 projects with an estimated project value totaling $1.7 billion.
The Veteran Business Enterprise program increased spending on veteran-owned businesses by $4 million.
“Since 2015, the commonwealth has spent more than $3.5 billion with small, diverse, and veteran businesses,” Pennsylvania Department of General Services Secretary Curt Topper said. “The growth of our programs and progress we’ve made has been the direct result of a committed and dedicated effort to create opportunity and equity for our small, diverse and veteran business communities. Now is the time when we must continue the dedication and commitment to ensure the continuation of this success in the years ahead.”
Also, during the fiscal year, 100 new firms became self-certified to do business with the state.