VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) — On Tuesday, Virginia Beach City Council learned the results of a racial disparity study focusing on minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.
The results of the study, presented to city council Tuesday evening, revealed the program Virginia Beach uses when it comes to women and minority-owned companies doesn't really work.
BBC Research and Consulting released the findings of year-long study: it found that between July 2012 and June 2017, the city did $1.2 billion in contracts, but only $221 million of it -- or just under 19 percent -- went to women and minorities.
Researchers said that number should be closer to 25 percent.
The conclusions reached indicated the city gives minorities the short end of the stick with the contract process and that the city needs to improve on notifying minority-owned businesses about opportunities.
The company conducting the study recommended for the city to consider setting race and gender goals in order to improve.
This "disparity study" is a long time coming, with city council members unanimously deciding to have the study done in 2017. BBC Research and Consulting from Denver conducted the $424,000 study.
City leaders decided to conduct the study after NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith said he was passed over for his Oceanfront development proposal. Smith claimed city officials discriminate against minority business owners and women.
On Tuesday, he said learning the results of the study is a step in the right direction.
"This is a great day for women minority and small businesses. Now the real work begins: a conscious effort to improve women and minority and small businesses and the contracting process," said Smith.
Former State Senate candidate Gary McCullom also attended Tuesday night's briefing.
"We would like to see the city take action to move forward on implementing the recommendations from the research company and more importantly, demonstrate the citizens and to the world that the city is open for business, for everyone," said McCullom.
Both Smith and McCullom have been advocating for the issue that has sparked conversation and marches around Virginia Beach.
Now according to The Virginian-Pilot, Governor Ralph Northam is weighing in on this study. The Pilot reports Northam spoke at a private fundraiser two weeks ago at Smith's home, where he said, "We want a level playing field."
The Governor also reportedly said, "We need to get rid of the cronyism in Virginia Beach, the 'good ol' boy' system."
The City of Virginia Beach declined to comment on the matter until after they were briefed with the results.
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