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 |
|---|---|
|
oeo.phila |
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Phone:
(215) 683-2057
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Join the OEO registry
To apply for or renew certification as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business, join the online registry.
Leadership
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.