Local MBE/WBE Board on Hold

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Business and Financial Empowerment
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September 17, 2025

What is the MBE/WBE Utilization Board?

  • Established under a City of Evansville ordinance promoting equal opportunity in public purchasing.
  • The ordinance sets participation goals of 10% for minority-owned businesses and 5% for women-owned businesses in city contracts.
  • Oversees City and County departments, boards, and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in awarding contracts for purchases and construction projects.
  • Works to increase utilization of MBEs and WBEs as both prime contractors and subcontractors.

Current Status
The board did not meet last Wednesday for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Our Times was told the meeting was canceled due to uncertainty about the board’s operations. 

Joe Atkinson, Communications Director for the City of Evansville, confirmed that the board has been on pause since June. He said the city is restructuring the board to ensure compliance with recent federal executive orders.

It’s unclear when the board will resume meeting, leaving contractors and community members waiting for clarity on how minority- and women-owned business participation will be monitored moving forward.

Author
Rasheedah Ajibade

Rasheedah Ajibade is the Editor-in-Chief of Our Times Newspaper, where she sets the editorial vision and voice of the publication, oversees newsroom operations, and leads content strategy focused on informing, empowering, and uplifting the community. She brings a strong background in community development and public service, with experience in organizational leadership and program management.

Rasheedah holds a Master of Science in Public Service Administration from the University of Evansville and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Southern Indiana. She is an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) through the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) and periodically writes a financial column for Our Times, helping readers strengthen financial literacy and build long-term financial stability.

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