City of San Antonio removes MWBE contracting goals

TX News - Published Dec 01, 2025

The City of San Antonio has removed participation goals for minority- and woman-owned businesses (MWBEs) from its contracting procedures. The change was implemented through an order from the office of the City Manager, Erik Walsh, which was published on September 10, 2025. The City's Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) continues to operate and sets contract participation goals for small and local businesses.

The MWBE participation goals where removed due to concerns that race- and gender-conscious remedies in public contracting could jeopardize federal funding that the City receives, and follows similar moves from other government agencies.

Supply SA, a third-party organization business organization that is not a City department, continues to operate and certify businesses as small businesses in addition to provide MWBE certifications, and those small business certifications are considered valid by SBEDA.

Read the order from the City Manager's office at https://www.sa.gov/files/assets/main/v/1/edd/documents/sbeda-ordinance-memo.pdf.

Find the homepage for SBEDA at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/EDD/Programs-Grants/Preference/SBEDA.

Find the homepage of Supply SA at https://www.supply-sa.org/.