Disadvantaged Minority and Women Business Enterprise Section

Our mission is to ensure opportunities for disadvantaged, minority, and woman-owned companies on projects that are funded by taxpayers of the City of Kansas City, Mo., and to ensure that all companies the City does business with have fair hiring practices.

Disadvantaged Minority and Women’s Enterprise Program

On all city projects above a certain amount, the Human Relations Department assigns goals for the participation of minority and women owned businesses. City departments and contractors work together to meet these goals. The Disadvantaged Minority and Women’s Enterprise Directory lists all of the certified companies whose participation can count towards City goals.

Minority- and women-owned businesses wanting to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them under the DMWBE program must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by a minority or a woman and be City-certified.

If you would like to apply to have your business certified as a Disadvantaged, Minority, or Women's Business Enterprise, the application and other forms are located in the Online Section of this page. A free certification workshop is offered on the last Tuesday of every month.

Affirmative Action

The Human Relations Department also ensures that all vendors and contractors doing business with the City are in compliance with the mandates of the City’s Civil Rights Ordinance. The DMWBE Division assists vendors and contractors in developing positive affirmative action plans to ensure that a good faith effort is made to employ minorities and women at all levels of their workforce.

Vendors doing more than $123,500 annually in business with the City must have a current Certificate of Compliance in order to receive payment on City contracts. Affirmative Action instructions and forms can be found in the Online Section of this page.