New York City now officially recognizes LGBTQ businesses as minority-owned enterprises

This week, New York City announced that it was officially recognizing businesses owned by LGBTQ people as part of their minority & women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) programs.

The decision will allow LGBTQ business owners of all sizes to access billions of dollars in city contracts, contract procurements and opportunities, in addition to accessing priceless resources for historically-disadvantaged enterprises in the Big Apple.

The agreement was struck between New York City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) agency and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NLGCC), and it will allow NLGCC-certified business operators to receive official recognition for their MWBE.

The partnership will allow for NYC to “fast-track” applications to certify LGBTQ-owned businesses and get them assistance as the country enters the second year of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is as much about equality as it is about contracts,” NLGCC senior vice president Jonathan Lovitz told NBC News.

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