City of Philadelphia

https://
The https:// in the address bar means your information is encrypted and can not be accessed by anyone else
.gov
Only government entities in the U.S. can end in .gov

Translate

It looks like your device language is set to . Would you like to translate this page?

Office of Economic Opportunity

Supporting minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

  • Home
  • Office of Economic Opportunity

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

  • Apr
    30
    Event
    SCORE - Integrating AI In Your Business - Harnessing Workstations for SMB AI Operations
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    SCORE - Integrating AI In Your Business - Harnessing Workstations for SMB AI Operations

    April 30, 2025
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map

    As artificial intelligence (AI) changes many industries, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need to adjust to make the most of it. This webinar is designed to help SMB owners and IT managers integrate AI technologies into their operations.

    In this session, we will dive into how high-performance workstations can power AI applications that drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. We'll discuss the critical role of workstations in running AI models effectively, including machine learning and deep learning processes, that enhance decision-making and operational efficiencies. 

    Attendees will learn about the different types of AI workloads, the specific hardware requirements for each, and practical steps to implement AI solutions within their current infrastructure.

    • Understanding AI and Its Impact on SMBs
    • Implementing AI in Your Business
    • Choosing the Right Workstation for AI Tasks
    • Scaling AI Solutions as Your Business Grows

    Click here to register
  • May
    1
    Event
    SBDC - Pitching Your Business Part 1: Creating Your Pitch
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    SBDC - Pitching Your Business Part 1: Creating Your Pitch

    May 1, 2025
    11:00 am to 1:00 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Do you feel comfortable talking about your business? Would you like to develop your "pitch"? Join this workshop to hone your idea and create your own Pitch Deck! This is a great first step to developing your business plan.

    Attendees will be able to:

    Describe their business idea and its market feasibility
    Refine their pitch and become comfortable promoting their business
    Practice their pitch and receive feedback from peers

    Target Audience:

    Preventure businesses
    Start-ups
    Existing businesses

    Presenter: Erika Tapp Duran

    Erika Tapp Duran, a Temple SBDC advisor, will be presenting this webinar. Erika provides consulting services to pre-venture and start-up businesses as well as teaching the center’s business planning courses. Erika is also part of the faculty of the Social Enterprise Program at the Villanova School of Business working with teams of students providing pro bono consulting for social enterprises. She came to Temple with a decade of experience in community and economic development in Philadelphia. Erika earned her EMBA at Villanova University, her MA at the University of Pennsylvania, and BArch at Cornell University.

    Click here to register.

  • May
    1
    Event
    SBDC - First Steps: Mapping the Business Concept
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
    Online
    Event

    SBDC - First Steps: Mapping the Business Concept

    May 1, 2025
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Are you thinking about launching a small business? Not sure what is involved? Unsure if you have a viable business idea? Join this introductory presentation to break down the nuts and bolts of what is needed to start a business.

    Attendees will be able to:
    - Recognize steps to starting a business
    - Utilize a business concept analysis to understand the viability of their business concept
    - Understand differing legal structures
    - Learn how to decide if starting a business is right for you!

    Target Audience:
    - Start-up businesses
    - Individuals in the ideation and research stages
    - Individuals preparing to launch their business
    - Intermediate businesses looking for refreshers

    Presenter: Erika Tapp Duran

    Erika Tapp Duran, a Temple SBDC advisor, will be presenting this webinar. Erika provides consulting services to pre-venture and start-up businesses as well as teaching the center’s business planning courses. Erika is also part of the faculty of the Social Enterprise Program at the Villanova School of Business working with teams of students providing pro bono consulting for social enterprises. She came to Temple with a decade of experience in community and economic development in Philadelphia. Erika earned her EMBA at Villanova University, her MA at the University of Pennsylvania, and BArch at Cornell University.

    Click here to register.

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
Sorry, there are no results for that search.

Top