Economic Equity

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Strengthen economic engagement among Franklin County’s Small and Emerging Business Enterprises (SEBE).

We strive to increase supplier engagement amongst small and emerging businesses with internal Board of Commissioner agencies and external patterns. We work to improve and enhance the competitive and non-competitive bid process so that more small business can do business with Franklin County. We also financially support organizations that provide resources to small businesses.

What Can We Do For You?

  • Encouraging business participation in county procurement.

  • Providing a procurement process where small businesses are competitive.

  • Sharing procurement opportunities through webinars, community economic inclusion conferences, panel discussions.

  • Providing training and educational programs on how the county procures goods and services.

  • Offering guidance on the process.

Don’t miss our small business outreach! Sign up at sebe@franklincountyohio.gov to connect with Economic Equity Administrator, Andrena Austin.

Register small business as a vendor with Franklin County at Franklin County Purchasing Department - Vendor Registration

Franklin County’s Small Business Resources:

  • Freedom Equity 

  • MBAC

  • Women's Business Accelerator Program

  • Columbus Chamber

  • Rev1

  • Ohio Business Development Center

  • Hispanic Chamber

  • Central Ohio African American Chamber

  • Zora's House

With internal partnership between the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Purchasing Department we remain committed to supporting small businesses through supplier diversity and inclusion. Several outreach events were hosted in 2024 that highlighted topics such as how to do business with county, providing resources to small business loans, and access for business to obtain their business certification. It remains an internal goal that all Board of Commissioner agencies increase their supplier diversity utilization. In 2024, 536 Purchase Orders were awarded to small and emerging businesses and small businesses received $56,408,350.28 in direct payment from Board of Commissioners for their good and services. 74% increase of direct spend to small businesses from 2023.

First Quarter of SEBE-Data-Narrative-2025-State-of-the-County.docx(DOCX, 29KB)

Proportions of Dollar Value of POs Awarded by SEBE Certification

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