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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
    24
    Event
    AACC Land, Air & Sea Innovation & Opportunity Business Summit
    7:30 am to 12:30 pm
    Cira Centre, 2929 N 30th St Station, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
  • Jun
    25
    Event
    OEO Business Development Series: Technology and Innovation in Business
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Online
  • Jun
    26
    Event
    SBDC: How to Access the Capital You Need - virtual session
    9:00 am to 10:30 am
    Online
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 #
Name: Deborah Booker Job title: Minority Business Enterprise Specialist II
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2079
Name: Mario Crestani Job title: Minority Disabled Business Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2068
Name: Stephanie Cunningham Job title: Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Specialist 1
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #:
Name: Ariana Forde Job title: Executive Assistant
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2057
Name: Margaret Gotora Job title: Informational Management Analyst II
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2037
Name: A. Michelle Gumbs Job title: Senior Director for Capacity Building
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2152
Name: Nasia Hill Job title: Director for Special Projects
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-4775
Name: Harsh Mehta Job title: Administrative Technical Trainee
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2080
Name: Tonya Morgan Job title: Clerk 3
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #:
Name: Ekpenyong Oji Job title: Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2078
Name: Jennifer Ricciardi-Wise Job title: Registry Manager
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 683-2071
Name: Melissa Wright Job title: Senior Director of OEO Data and Policy
Office of Economic Opportunity		Phone #: (215) 686-2035
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