Equal Opportunity

Minority-Owned, Female-Owned and Small Business Open Houses Business Certification Construction Management Program Subcontractor Addition and Substitution Policy and Procedure Office of Equal Opportunity Vendor Certification Registry

Minority-Owned, Female-Owned and Small Business Open Houses

Equal Opportunity Information: 216.664.4152
Open House Information: 216.664.2620

On the first Tuesday of every month from 10:00am to 12:00pm the City of Cleveland’s Division of Purchasing and Supplies hosts a virtual open house for minority-owned, female-owned and Cleveland small businesses. The purpose of these open houses is to educate attendees on how to compete for City business. Vendors may attend the meeting online via WebEx (password: 35wPKPxNa2A) or by coming to Cleveland City Hall, Room 128. Contact the Division of Purchasing and Supplies to request how you wish to attend the meeting. Space is limited for in office attendance and will be on a first come first serve basis.

Business Certification

216.664.4152 - Weekdays 8 am to 5 pm - F: 216.664.3870

Certification and Recertification Applications

Those bidding on City of Cleveland contracts or who desire to build projects in the City are required to comply with Chapter 187, the purpose of which is to ensure participation by Cleveland Small Businesses (CSB's), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE's), and Female Business Enterprises (FBE's). CSB's, MBE's, and FBE's must be certified by the Office of Equal Opportunity so that contractors may receive participation credits when hiring them as subcontractors. Companies interested in certification must complete a notarized certification application and submit it for review. Applicants may be subject to site visits and additional requests for information

Construction Management Program

216.664.4152

The James H. Walker Construction Management Course is a ten week, twenty session course. The course is taught by experienced construction professionals and includes education in contracting, marketing, procurement, bonding, scheduling, cost accounting, estimating, and project planning. Participants learn how to become certified with the City of Cleveland, obtain financing, bid on City contracts and prepare business plans.

Approximately 1,347 entrepreneurs, trades people, and professional architects, engineers, surveyors and others who have taken this course are operating well-known and respected businesses. The course is named in honor of the late James Walker, a former OEO employee who dedicated most of his professional life to helping minorities develop construction and general contracting businesses.