LITTLE ROCK – The City of Little Rock is reaching out to local corporate leadership and decisionmakers in spending to promote intentional equity in procurement practices as part of a larger movement called OpportUNITY Little Rock.

Participants were recently invited to a professional development seminar hosted by the Little Rock Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that focused on best practices and strategies to increase supplier diversity and diverse business engagement, particularly in sourcing from minority and women owned business enterprises (MWBE).

“Small and diverse businesses are the heartbeat of our economy,” said Amber Jackson, interim chief equity officer for the City of Little Rock. “The goal of OpportUNITY Little Rock is to grow and support MWBEs, in part by integrating them into a larger network of diverse business development.”

OpportUNITY Little Rock launched in October 2021 as a public-private partnership that includes the City, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and UA Little Rock. To date, seven of Little Rock’s anchor institutions, five corporations, and 70 small businesses have joined the movement, participating in 22 hours of technical assistance including business development classes and supplier and contracting training.

Economic equity is one of the pillars of the administration of Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., who created the position of chief equity officer in 2021, in part with a mandate to help diversify the suppliers providing goods and services to the City. Over the last three years, the City’s diverse spending has risen from 13 to 23% with a goal of 25% by next year. OpportUNITY Little Rock aims to produce the same kinds of commitments and results from businesses across the city.

“Research and experience tell us that women and minority business owners face unique and systemic challenges in establishing and growing their entrepreneurial endeavors,” said Scott. “By being intentional about how we spend our money and with whom do business, we can help create a more equitable economic environment, which, in turn, helps our whole city prosper.”

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