Savannah City Council approved enhancements to the City’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise policy at Thursday’s council meeting to give local disadvantaged businesses a greater opportunity to receive awarded dollars from city contracts.

The successful Business Opportunity program has already seen a 19% increase in disadvantaged business participation in the last two years. The enhancements, focus specifically on disadvantaged businesses that are located in the City.

The enhancements to the program will require companies participating in the program to sub-contract 10% of an awarded contract to local disadvantaged businesses. A business is eligible for disadvantaged status if it is majority owned by a disadvantaged individual from a group that has been deemed socially and economically disadvantaged.

“The LDBE enhancement establishes the City’s commitment to increase the participation of local disadvantaged businesses in City contracts,” said Director of Business Opportunity Manuel Dominguez. “The improvements help insure that City dollars remains local and help stimulate our local economy.”

Other enhancement include:

• Re-certifying any business previously recognized under the MWBE policy that was replaced by the Businesses Opportunity Program

• Launching a contract financing program for local and disadvantaged businesses

• Establishing a joint venture program and mentor-protégé program

To take advantage of the program, visit the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center at 801 E. Gwinnett Street or call (912) 652-3582.