Philly Leader

In Fiscal Year 2021, the Pennsylvania state government spent a record $955 million in contracts with small, small diverse and veteran-run businesses.

This is the second year in a row a state record has been set, with the current amount eclipsing last year’s total of $856 million; a news release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said this week. It was an increase of nearly 10% and created 10,000 new jobs. Since 2015, the beginning of Wolf’s time in office, a total of more than $4.5 billion has been spent on contracts for such businesses.

“I have always made it a top priority to support Pennsylvania’s small, small diverse and veteran businesses,” Wolf said in the release. “I’m proud of how much we’ve accomplished and the positive effect we have had on small businesses across the commonwealth. From the outset, we wanted to make the state contracting process more inclusive, equitable and fair for small businesses. Over the last seven years, we’ve put our money where our mouth is with multiple record-setting spending years. This is about building an economy that works for everyone – including the small businesses that power our communities.”

Wolf’s announcement followed the 2022 Annual Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO) report released by Department of General Services (DGS) acting Secretary Joe Lee.

“There is much to be proud of when it comes to our accomplishments in serving the small, small diverse and veteran business communities,” Lee said in the release. “The policies and programs we have been able to implement have laid a more than solid foundation that can be built upon for continued success in the years ahead.”

Kerry Kirkland, DGS deputy secretary for Diversity Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities, noted that they have been “trendsetters” in creativeness and innovation.

“We have been able to commission the commonwealth’s first-ever Statewide Disparities Study; convene the first-ever DISBO Governor’s Advisory Council; and implement several other groundbreaking policies and programs to benefit small, small diverse and veteran businesses,” he said in the release. "The future is truly bright for these business communities moving forward.”