Louisville City Wire

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mayor Greenberg signed a new executive order Friday, elevating Metro Government’s Equity in Contracting & Procurement Task Force into the mayor’s office and appointing Deputy Chief of Staff Keisha Dorsey as its new Executive Director.

The task force was first launched in September 2020 to encourage Louisville’s largest private and public infrastructure investors to increase opportunities for Black-owned and diverse-owned businesses as defined in the Louisville Metro Code of Ordinance 37.66.

Over the past three years, the task force has worked to ensure private and public infrastructure investments have been distributed fairly and equitably among Black-owned and diverse-owned businesses, a critically important initiative for the Greenberg administration.

Task force member organizations include MSD, LG&E, Louisville Water Company, Louisville Regional Airport Authority, LMHA, JCPS, UofL, KYTC, TARC, Louisville Urban League, OneWest, and a representative from the Metro Council. Representatives from GLI, Kentuckiana Works, and organized labor serve on the Workforce Development Subcommittee. Elevating the task force into the mayor’s office also aligns with Mayor Greenberg’s work to increase the number of Black-owned businesses in Louisville.

“Today, less than three percent of local businesses are Black owned, yet Black Louisvillians make up 22 percent of our population,” Mayor Greenberg said. “My administration is committed to growing that number and I’m thrilled Keisha has accepted this new role to help us get there. Thanks to all the task force representatives and their agencies for working towards our goal of a more equitable city.”

“The task before us is clear: to bridge the gaps that exist in the Black-owned and diverse-owned business sectors,” added Dorsey. “Together, we can build a more equitable and prosperous future for Louisville.”

The mayor also announced Friday an upcoming matchmaker event to further engage business owners, suppliers, and contractors. The event will be held Tuesday 10/10 from 4:00-6:30 at the Louisville Central Community Center on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

Additional information on the task force can be found here.

Original source can be found here.