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Office of Economic Opportunity

Supporting minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

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Office of Economic Opportunity

Services

Find a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business
Register as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business
Do business with the City
Report possible fraud, waste, or other issues on contracts

What we do

The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in the Department of Commerce ensures that the City is working with diverse businesses to fulfill its needs for goods and services. Each year, the City aims to reach 35 percent participation from minority, women, and disabled-owned enterprises (M/W/DSBEs) on its contracts.

OEO does this through:

  • Registering minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.
  • Reviewing and monitoring contracts.
  • Supporting capacity-building efforts.
  • Promoting anti-discriminatory practices.
  • Providing advisory support and education to M/W/DSBE businesses.
  • Helping M/W/DSBEs become prime City contractors.
  • Creating alliances within the City government and beyond.

Our partners include:

  • City of Philadelphia departments.
  • Quasi-public agencies.
  • Private industries.
  • Nonprofit sector.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
12th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email oeo.phila@phila.gov
Phone: (215) 683-2057

Join the OEO registry

To apply for or renew certification as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business, join the online registry.

Visit the OEO registry

Resources

Navigating the M/W/DSBE Registry
Watch our videos about using the M/W/DSBE Registry and doing business with City government.

Events

  • Jun
    12
    Event
    RACP Grant 102: Financing & Construction Strategies for Success
    9:00 am to 11:00 am
    1500 Market St Suite 3500 W, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    Event

    RACP Grant 102: Financing & Construction Strategies for Success

    June 12, 2025
    9:00 am to 11:00 am, 2 hours
    1500 Market St Suite 3500 W, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

    Join PIDC and PACDC for a 2-part series on the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP)—a vital funding opportunity for Pennsylvania-based economic development and infrastructure projects.

    Part 2 will walk participants through the essentials of RACP, including:

    • Winning a RACP Grant & Getting Through Construction presented by Kirsti Bracali, Principal At Dan Bosin Associates 
    • Bridging the RACP Grant — Finding the Money to Complete Your RACP Grant Project presented by Ricky Huynh,  Senior Loan Officer, Lending at PIDC 

    Whether you’re new to RACP or looking to learn more, this workshop will provide practical insights, tools, and expert guidance.

    Co-Sponsored by:
    Senator Sharif Street, 3rd Senatorial District

    Click here to register! 

  • Jun
    17
    Event
    Advisory Network For Small Business Information Session
    9:00 am to 10:00 am
    1500 Market St suite 3500 w, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    Event

    Advisory Network For Small Business Information Session

    June 17, 2025
    9:00 am to 10:00 am, 1 hour
    1500 Market St suite 3500 w, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map
    Join PIDC to find out how successful Philadelphia entrepreneurs used advisory boards to build a strong foundation and reposition their businesses for sustainable and profitable growth. Plus, learn how you can do the same with an advisory team of professional volunteers from the new Philadelphia nonprofit organization, the Advisory Network for Small Business (ANSB).

    This session will include:
    • Experienced professionals from the ANSB teams
    • Entrepreneurs who leveraged advisory teams to transform their businesses in 12 months
    • Q & A with ANSB team members and entrepreneurs

    Click here to register!
  • Jun
    17
    Event
    OEO Doing Business in the City: How to do Business with the School District
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    OEO Doing Business in the City: How to do Business with the School District

    June 17, 2025
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) offers Doing Business in the City Workshops to help businesses navigate opportunities, resources, and processes for successfully contracting with the City of Philadelphia. These workshops are designed to support minority-, women-, and disabled-owned businesses (M/W/DSBEs) by providing guidance on:

    • City procurement processes
    • Certification requirements for becoming a registered M/W/DSBE
    • How to find and bid on City contracts
    • Networking opportunities with City departments, agencies, and prime contractors

    The workshops equip businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to access City contracts, expand capacity, and grow sustainably, aligning with Philadelphia's commitment to economic opportunity for all.

    The How to Do Business with the School District Workshop provides businesses with valuable insights into partnering with the School District of Philadelphia to access contracting opportunities. This workshop equips business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to access opportunities with the School District of Philadelphia, helping them build strong partnerships and contribute to the district's educational mission.

    Presenter: Eric Watkins, Philadelphia School District

    Register for this workshop.

See all events

Leadership

Lynn T. Newsome
Deputy Commerce Director
(215) 683-2057

Lynn Newsome became Deputy Commerce Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in April 2022. In her role, Newsome ensures that the City works with diverse businesses to fulfill its needs for goods and services. OEO aims to reach 35 percent participation from minority-, women-, and disabled-owned enterprises (M/W/DSBEs) on its contracts. Newsome joined the City in 2009, serving as Director of Compliance at the Division of Housing and Community Development (DHDC). In addition to her 13 years in city government, Newsome worked for 10 years in state government in the Department of Labor and Industry, the Governor’s Office of Administration, Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission, Department of Public Welfare, and the Department of Health.

Staff

Name Job title Phone #
Deborah Booker Minority Business Enterprise Specialist II
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2079
Mario Crestani Minority Disabled Business Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2068
Stephanie Cunningham Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Specialist 1
Office of Economic Opportunity
Ariana Forde Executive Assistant
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2057
Margaret Gotora Informational Management Analyst II
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2037
A. Michelle Gumbs Senior Director for Capacity Building
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2152
Nasia Hill Director for Special Projects
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-4775
Harsh Mehta Administrative Technical Trainee
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2080
Tonya Morgan Clerk 3
Office of Economic Opportunity
Ekpenyong Oji Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2078
Jennifer Ricciardi-Wise Registry Manager
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 683-2071
Melissa Wright Senior Director of OEO Data and Policy
Office of Economic Opportunity		(215) 686-2035
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