CONTRACTS
What does this figure say? The I-205 Improvement Project is currently exceeding its goal for DBE contractors. As of [date], ___% of all contract dollars paid to date have been paid to certified Disadvantaged Business Entity contractors, which is a higher proportion than the goal set by the Construction Equity Scoreboard of 25%.
Why is it important? For centuries, People of Color and women have been prevented from owning businesses, have had their businesses sabotaged and excluded from profitable engagement in the economy. By telling the story of the degree to which contracts are awarded to companies owned by People of Color and women today, we can call out improvements, or conversely the degree to which the status quo is maintained, in our communities.
What are some of the limitations of what this figure can tell us? The numbers above reflect payments to date, not when the work was done, and not the full contract amount. If, by happenstance, more non-DBE certified contractors are paid for work at the beginning of the project, the numbers would present a lower portion to DBE contractors than is anticipated for the entirety of the project.
Interactive Figure: By selecting or de-selecting the categories on the right, the figure below will change to show data for only the selected categories. Hover over various figure elements with your mouse to see more details. Refresh this page to re-set everything to original settings.
What does this figure say? The distribution of contract dollars is different depending on the particular characteristics selected. For example, to see the relative distribution of contract dollars among female identifying DBE contractors by race, de-select “male” and “not DBE certified” in the figure above. The “race/ethnicity” column now shows the portion of contract dollars awarded by the race of those female DBE certified contractors.
Why is it important? DBE certification is based on a number of factors, and DBE contractors are not a homogenous group. It is important to look at other characteristics of the business owners, such as race and gender, to get a fuller understanding of the ways in which contract dollars are facilitating economic vitality in our communities.
What are some of the limitations of what this figure can tell us? First, race, gender are multidimensional and complex components of the identities of individuals! The categories here do no encompass the range and interconnectivity of the many, many ways the individual company owners identify themselves. The categories here are chosen for a number of reasons (historical, cultural, etc.) and are intended to give a broad overview of the demographic composition of the company owners and the relative portion of contract dollars each company has been awarded. Second, many businesses are owned by multiple people. There are of course many more, and we hope that even with these limitations, the information above is helpful.
Interactive Figure: By selecting or de-selecting the categories on the right, the figure below will change to show data for only the selected categories. Hover over various figure elements with your mouse to see more details. Zoom in and out with the “+” and “-” signs that appear on the left of the map when you hover your mouse on the image, and click the house icon to come back to the Oregon area. Refresh this page to re-set everything to original settings.
What does this figure say? The companies awarded contracts on the I-205 Improvement Project are located in a number of zip codes around the state. The darker shading on a zip code, the more contract dollars were awarded to companies located in that zip code. (fill in more details once real data is input)
Why is it important? In addition to examining the distribution of contract dollars by the certification status, race, and gender of the primary owners of the companies providing services on this project, it can also be helpful to see the ways in which these contract awards are distributed geographically.
What are some of the limitations of what this figure can tell us? Zip codes were designed for specific mail-distribution purposes, not for providing geographically relevant areas for comparisons like the one above. However, everyone receiving mail knows their zip code, and they have become useful tools in providing rough understandings of geographic information. In addition, the numbers above are payments to date, not full contract amounts, and they do not reflect profit (the difference between income and expenditures). Further, the location of the company may not be the same as the location of the individuals who own the company.
What is a DBE certification? DBE stands for Disadvantaged Business Entity. DBEs are for-profit small businesses where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations. To be DBE certified, a small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals must be evaluated and approved through the relevant office in their state. In Oregon, this is the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID).
